Birubala Rabha: A life of chasing witch hunters
The amazing life story of a courageous, determined and selfless woman, Birubala Rabha, from Assam. She trail-blazed awareness about and strategies against witchcraft accusations and harmful superstitions, even though she faced accusations herself.
Read on to learn more...
Image credit: JB Hoang Tam
by Ellen Willis
16 October 2025
Born in 1954 in the small village of Thakurvila in Assam’s Goalpara district, Birubala Rabha grew up to become one of India’s most influential female activists fighting against the atrocities of witchcraft accusations.
When Birubala was just 15, she married her husband, a farmer, and they went on to have three children. The catalyst for her activism work came in 1985, when her eldest son, Dharmeswar, became unwell with an episode of typhoid. Birubala took her son to a local doctor to seek guidance and treatment. This doctor, instead of offering scientific medical advice, informed her that her son's condition was due to supernatural causes. He claimed that her son had fallen under the spell of a fairy who was pregnant with his child and that when this child was born, Birubala’s son would die.
Despite being told this horrific fairy tale under the guise of medical advice, Dharmeswar went on to make a full recovery. This experience set in motion the seeds of doubt in Birubala’s mind about belief in the superstitious domain.
In the years following this incident, Birubala would go on to become a leading pioneer of change against superstitious beliefs. She continued this despite herself being branded a witch and having her character questioned; undaunted, she persisted against all odds to raise awareness about the harm caused by branding people as ‘witches’. She was a strong advocate of education, saying ‘I believe right education is the need of the hour to end this superstition’.
One of her most notable contributions was founding several grassroots activism groups, including Mission Birubala, an NGO she established in 2011. This NGO is composed of women survivors, lawyers, volunteers and activists who spearhead campaigns to spread awareness about the dangers of witchcraft accusations, as well as supporting and protecting survivors.
Birubala personally rescued approximately 35 women from witchcraft persecution during her lifetime and helped to rehabilitate them back into society. She once stated:
"I believe in my fight for womanhood against patriarchy," …
"The quacks, who are mostly men, brand the women as witches."
Throughout her lifetime, Birubala also contributed to the creation of tangible legislation to punish those who branded others as a ‘witch’, notably through the Assam Witch Hunting Prohibition, Prevention and Protection Bill, which was passed in 2015. Under this legislation, any person who brands someone a ‘witch’ can face up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to the equivalent of AUD$8,000.
Additionally, Birubala empowered young women by providing the tools and education they needed to challenge outdated superstitious beliefs and practices. She accomplished this through forming the Thakurvila Mahila Samity, a women’s association dedicated to awareness-raising around social ills, including witch-hunting. Using a variety of school programs, workshops and community-led campaigns, her work gave local women the knowledge about superstition and skills in advocacy so they could stand up for their rights.
In recognition of her exceptional work and contributions to women's empowerment, Guwahati University awarded her an honorary doctorate in 2015. Further accolades in recognition of Birubala’s revolutionary work include:
Nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 - An Assam-based women’s rights organisation, The Northeast Network, nominated her in recognition of her brave and relentless fight against witch-hunting.
Panelist speaker at the Witchcraft and Human Rights Experts Workshop hosted by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in 2017
Women’s World Summit Foundation Prize (2018) - in recognition of her exceptional courage and commitment to improving the lives of women and children in rural communities.
Padma Shri Award in 2021 for her exceptional activism work against witch-hunts across India. The Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award and is presented in India for recognition for excellence in public and social service.
Sadly, Birubala passed away on the 13th of May 2024 at 70 years of age. However, she has left behind an incredible legacy that continues to be honoured by NGOs, advocates and government to this day. This includes being the inspiration behind declaring 13 May Anti-Superstition Day in Assam.
From an illiterate girl growing up in a rural Indian village where superstitions were just part of everyday life, to being nominated for the Nobel Prize and receiving an honorary doctorate, Birubala’s story is truly incredible. Her main goal was simple but powerful: ‘to end the menace of witch-hunting’ (6). Looking back on her life, we hope her journey can serve as a beacon of hope to inspire future generations of trailblazers and change-makers. Her story shows that anyone, regardless of age, gender or social status, can be a catalyst for real, positive change in society.
References:
Ministry of Tribal Affairs. ‘Birubala Rabha’ Birubala Rabha – Digital Knowledge Repository. Accessed 26/06/2025.
BBC News. ‘The Indian woman who hunts the witch hunters’ Soutik Biswas. 2016 The Indian woman who hunts the witch hunters - BBC News. Accessed 26/09/2025.
Matters India. ‘Assam gets a stringent law to fight witch-hunting’. 2018 Assam gets a stringent law to fight witch-hunting – Matters India. Accessed 26/09/2025.
The Assam Witch Hunting: Prohibition, Prevention and Protection Act 2015. THE ASSAM WITCH HUNTING (PROHIBITION). Accessed 26/09/2025.
Birubala Rabha, Padam Shri winner. Birubala Rabha, Padma Shri Winner Who Helped Pass Assam's Anti-Witch Hunting Law, Dies. Accessed 26/09/2025.
Priyakshi Gogoi. 'One woman against a thousand superstitions, Birubala Rabha’s battle against the superstition of ‘Witch-Hunting’. Accessed 26/09/2025.
