Noted educationist and the first woman from northeast India to have awarded with Doctor of Literature (D Litt) degree, Professor Niru Hazarika, whom chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma admired a lot as a teacher as well as a guide in his social and political life, passed away at 3.45 am on Sunday in Guwahati due to Covid-19 infection. She was 73.
“I am deeply saddened with the demise of Professor Hazarika, one of my revered teachers. She is the first woman from northeast to have been awarded D Litt She authored several books and immensely contributed to Political Science,” the CM said.
Hazarika, who was associated with the Political Science department of the university for over three decades, is considered as one of the architects of the department of the university.
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She immensely contributed in the growth and expansion of the department in the region.
Hazarika – the former member of Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi, was also a guide for health minister and BJP’s key ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader Keshab Mahanta sicne his university days to political life.
“She provided guidance to me from my university days to social and political life. Her demise has created a vacuum in the education sector and it’s a huge loss for me particularly,” Mahanta said.
Hazarika has supervised around 60 research scholars and she primarily specialized in public administration, government, and politics in northeast India, and human rights.