Khaira: Even as Mothers’ Day will be celebrated across the country Sunday, people of Khaira in Balasore were all praise for Suprabha Das (78), who has played saviour to many helpless, destitute women, girls and minors.
Given her dedicated social service, people of the locality look upon Das, a resident of Parbatipur, like Mother Teresa. People say whenever she sees a girl or a woman in distress, her heart bleeds and she immediately comes out for their rescue.
That apart, Das has been carrying out her campaign against liquor, women trafficking, child marriages, domestic violence against women and women rights. Her husband engineer Amarendra Das (88) helps her in social services.
Suprabha is childless, but she has played Jasoda for many orphaned minor girls, by shaping their lives.
Born to Nadiabrahma Das and Sabitri Das in Godarasahi, Suprabha had completed her MBBS from SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack and got higher studies in New Delhi.
She served as a senior medical officer at Rourkela Ispat General Hospital from 1967 to 1985.
However, the plight of orphaned girls and helpless women in her village moved her deeply. She nourished a desire to serve people and started treating patients at nominal fees with the help of her husband.
She formed a women organization Priyadrashini Mahila Samiti, which worked for giving justice to women. She picked up helpless, orphaned and destitute minor girls and brought them up at her house. She brought up 10 such distressed girls and married them off.
In an instance, she adopted one of the three daughters of Suresh Khuntia, a resident of Chuapada in Mayurbhnaj. The three girls were being tortured by their mother after the death of their father.
Suprabha brought the second girl Gurubari and has been bringing her up in her house. The girl regards the couple as her parents. The couple set up Krushnaprasad Sikhya Kendra at Gandibeda and has been offering free education to the helpless children.
She came to limelight by resisting some people involved in women trafficking at Tuto and Dalanga villages years ago.
