Rajabala Das, the pioneer in women education in Assam was the founder Principal of Handique Girls" College. As per resolution of the executive meeting and Teachers" Unit meeting held on 09/08/2023, 11/09/2023 and 07/10/2023, and with the approval of Staff Council meeting held on 16/10/2023 “Rajabala Das Smriti-Raksha Samiti “was formed by the College to perpetuate the memory of Rajabala Das.
The aim of the committee is to preserve the memory and ideals of Rajabala Das and to organize various academic and social activities. The action plans to preserve the legacy of the great lady includes:
For selecting the recipient of the award, suggestions are invited from academicians and intellectuals. The Award selection Committee comprises of two faculty members and two distinguished personalities from different fields to form a panel. The panel decides the name of the recipient.
The first recipient of Rajabala Das National Award in the year 2024 was Dr. Manisha Behal. She was awarded for her contribution for the uplift of women in the North East India.
In 2025, Rajabala Das National Award was awarded to social activist Smt. Junu Bora, for her endeavour to ensure Women"s right, and for her fight against superstitions particularly in the remote areas like the tea gardens of Assam.
In 2026, the award was given to Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty. She was conferred with the award for projecting the problems of Assam in the National level print media and promoting ethical Journalism.
In 2024, Rajabala Das Annual Lecture was delivered by eminent journalist and author Sanjoy Hazarika on “Text and Context: Women, Gender and Safe Spaces in Assam and North-East Region”.
In 2025, the lecture was delivered by Professor Udayon Misra, renowned author and former HOD and Professor of English in Dibrugarh University. He delivered his lecture on “Women Empowerment: Illusion or Reality”.
The invited speaker in 2026 was Prasanta Rajguru, a prominent personality in print and visual media. Sri. Rajguru delivered his lecture on “Conflict: A Quest of Sources”.
The recipient of the Rajabala Das National Award is honoured with a memento, besides a cash amount, gamocha, stole and a citation. The memento is a lion seated on a wooden pedestal. It is an artwork based on traditional Nama Singha, a symbolic representation of Nama Singha seated atop an elephant"s back as seen in Guru Asana of satra Culture denoting suppressing sin in the form of an elephant.
The lion standing upon the stone slab in the sculpture signifies Rajabala Das who, like a lioness, opened the path of education and liberation overcoming mountain-like obstacles. The shape of the lion slightly resembles a dragon, the symbol of Ahom dynasty and also a lion on elephants back is a divine symbol in Buddhist culture. In this way Rajabala Das Award sculpture carries the memory of ancient history along with cultural heritage of Assam and India. It also reflects the formidable personality of the great woman, Rajabala Das.
