Matua matriarch Binapani Devi 'Boroma' passes away at 100; PM Modi condoles death, Mamata announces state funeral

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who met her on February 2 during his visit to North 24 Parganas district's Thakurnagar, wrote "Boro Ma Binapani Thakur was an icon of our times. A source of great strength and inspiration for several people, Boro Ma’s rich ideals will continue to influence generations. Her emphasis on social justice and harmony will never be forgotten."

Kolkata: Dalit Matua community matriarch Binapani Devi, popularly known as 'Boroma', passed away at the state-run SSKM Hospital on Tuesday following multi-organ failure, hospital Medical Superintendent Raghunath Misra said. Boroma, aged 100, breathed her last at 8.52 p.m. She is survived by her younger son Manjul Krishna Thakur as the her elder son Kapil Krishna Thakur pre-deceased her. Prime Minister Narendra Modi who met her on February 2 during his visit to North 24 Parganas district's Thakurnagar, wrote "Boro Ma Binapani Thakur was an icon of our times. A source of great strength and inspiration for several people, Boro Ma’s rich ideals will continue to influence generations. Her emphasis on social justice and harmony will never be forgotten."

Last month, I had the honour of seeking the blessings of Boro Ma Binapani Thakur at Thakurnagar. I will always cherish the interaction I had with her. We stand in solidarity with the Matua community in this hour of sadness. pic.twitter.com/kiD1FC3HWc

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 5, 2019

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who rushed to the hospital after Boroma's condition became grave, announced the news of her passing away to the large number of devotees of the All India Matua Mahasangha, who had crowded the area since the morning. Banerjee said the funeral procession would start on Wednesday morning, piloted by Kolkata Police. "She would be given a gun salute and state funeral," she announced, describing her death as a "personal loss". She added "she was like a guardian for us, she always supported me,".

I am deeply pained at passing away of Matua matriarch Boro Ma Binapani Thakur. My condolences to her family & my brothers & sisters of Matua Community at this moment of grief. It was a great opportunity for me to meet Boro Ma last November, on the centenary of her birthday 1/2

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 5, 2019

Admitted to JNM Hospital in Nadia district's Kalyani on February 28 following shortness of breath and fever, Boroma was shifted to the SSKM on Sunday after her condition deteriorated. On Tuesday, she was put on ventilator support after her condition became "extremely critical". Boroma would be cremated at the Matua Mahasangha headquarters known as 'Thakurbari' in Thakurnagar area of North 24 Parganas district. It is said that she was suffering from high fever when she was brought on Sunday which later turned into pneumonia. She already had pre-existing problems like COPD and mild diabetes. She was put on ventilation since 5 a.m. She had multi-organ failure. Who was Matua matriarch Binapani Devi ?

• Boroma was the chief adviser of the Mahasangha. Considered to be Bengal's second most influential Scheduled Caste community comprising primarily low-caste Hindu refugees from Bangladesh, it has over one crore members spread over various southern Bengal districts, especially North 24 Parganas.
• Launched by the followers of Harichand Thakur, it began as a religious reformation movement that originated in what is now called Bangladesh.
• Born in Jabdakathi village of Barishal district (now in Bangladesh), Borma was in 1933 married to Pramatharanjan Thakur, a freedom fighter and great-grandson of Harichand.
• After the partition of India in 1947, large number of members of the Matua community migrated to West Bengal.
• Pramatharanjan died in 1990, following which Binapani Devi took over the leadership of the community, which has always been wooed by various political parties in the state as it commands over 70 lakh votes in various southern districts and plays a sizeable role in determining the electoral fortunes in at least 74 of the state's 294 Assembly seats.
• Boroma shared a good rapport with Banerjee, and acted as a big political force behind the Trinamool Congress' win in the 2011 and 2016 Assembly elections.
• In December last year, the state government bestowed on her its highest honour - 'Bangabibhushan'.