A Biography of Noorjahan Kakon Bibi

1. Introduction

21 March 2018. 11:30 PM. The sound of life support in the ICU of Sylhet’s MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital stopped. An elderly woman lay there, her face bearing the scars of war. Various age-related complications, pneumonia. Suddenly, the monitor’s sound ceased. Nurses rushed in. Doctors announced, “She is no more.” Noorjahan Kakon Bibi, a Bir Protik freedom fighter, that girl from the Khasi village who once asked, “Where is my husband?”—finally bid farewell forever. Her age is disputed—some say 85, some say 103. But what is certain is that she lived through a turbulent period of history.

As the news spread, the people of Sunamganj and Sylhet wept. Media headlines read: ‘Bir Protik Noorjahan Kakon Bibi is no more’. Her Janaza was held with state honors. She was buried in the family graveyard. A chapter of the war closed forever. But her story will never close. This report presents the complete story of that war heroine—from Kaket Henniata of the Khasi village to Bir Protik Noorjahan Kakon Bibi—an unbelievable, bloody, tear-soaked history.

2.At a Glance: Life of Noorjahan Kakon Bibi

Information	Details	Thriller Note
Full Name	Noorjahan Kakon Bibi (born: Kaket Henniata)	The story of a Bengali war heroine hidden behind a Khasi name
Birth	c. 1915 or 1927 or 1932 (disputed) – Noyekhrai Khasi village, Meghalaya, British India (present-day India)	Multiple opinions, nothing certain — hidden in the dust of history
Death	21 March 2018, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital	Last breath from pneumonia, age 85/90/103 — which is true?
Father	Unknown (member of Khasi community)	Daughter of a poor Khasi family
Mother	Unknown	Extremely poor, so suffered from childhood
First Husband	Shahed Ali (married 1970, later abandoned)	In-laws and husband abandoned her for giving birth to a daughter
Second Husband	Abdul Majid Khan (EPR member)	Short-lived marriage, died at the time of son’s birth
Children	Sakhina (daughter from first husband) – later lost	Son died at birth, never found Sakhina again
Education	Informal, possibly primary	Fluent in Khasi language, could speak Bengali and Urdu
Profession	Freedom fighter, spy, homemaker	‘Disguised as a beggar’ spy during Liberation War
Participation	Spy and front-line fighter for Mukti Bahini in 1971	Participated in over 20 frontal battles, seriously wounded at Tengratila
Highest Recognition	Bir Protik (1996)	Fourth highest bravery award of Bangladesh
Specialty	Though a Khasi woman, fought for Bengali independence	Endured inhuman torture by Pakistani soldiers, yet did not confess

Hidden in the gaps of each line of the table are tears and blood. Especially the ‘Birth’ and ‘Death’ lines—one uncertain, the other certain; the life in between was an epic.

Early Life (1915/1927/1932-1950)

She was born in Noyekhrai Khasi village in Meghalaya state of then British India (a village in West Jaintia Hills district of present-day Meghalaya state, India). Although the Khasi community is matrilineal, poverty was extreme. They lived in small huts in the hilly area. Her parents were very poor. From childhood, she had to collect firewood from the forest, fetch water from mountain springs, and help with farming in the fields. There was no opportunity to go to school. She spoke the Khasi language, but later also learned Bengali and Urdu—to communicate with local Bengalis and Pakistani soldiers.

There are multiple opinions about her birth year. The Bangladesh Liberation War Museum’s documents mention 1915. Again, government documents from the time of receiving Bir Protik in 1996 show 1927. Some elderly sources mention 1932 as well. The reason for this confusion is that there was no birth registration in Khasi villages at that time; age was estimated. The Khasi community did not have a tradition of recording birth dates; they determined age according to lunar months and seasons. Noorjahan herself did not know her exact age. In an interview later in life, she said, “Only Allah knows my age. I didn’t keep count. I fought, I saved people, that’s what matters.”

Kaket Henniata, who grew up in the Khasi village, was brave and independent-minded. As a child, she would roam the hills, climb trees, and was not afraid of snakes or scorpions. Local Khasi girls called her ‘Ramreh’ (brave). She lost her parents at a young age. Then she became alone. Life alone in the hills was difficult. Some Bengali traders who crossed the border to bring daily necessities helped her then. From them, she learned the Bengali language. Gradually, she came to the Derai upazila on this side of the border. There, she was introduced to Shahed Ali, a young Bengali man. Though not love, out of sympathy, they married around 1970 (approximate). That Khasi girl then stepped into Bengali Muslim society. Her in-laws named her ‘Noorjahan Begum’. The nickname ‘Kakon Bibi’ came later. From Khasi ‘Kaket’ to ‘Kakon’ – it is a term of endearment.

Marriage and Suffering in Domestic Life (1970-1971)

The first year after marriage was one of hardship. She could not understand Bengali culture, language, or customs. Leaving the free life of the Khasi village, it was difficult to be confined in a limited household. Her in-laws looked at her with suspicion. They mocked her as ‘Ahoroni’ (kidnapped/taken). She was called “Pahari Maing” (hill woman). Still, she was managing the household. She was learning to cook. Her language skills improved by mixing with neighboring Bengali villagers. Shahed Ali treated her well initially. But the villagers made snide remarks about the Khasi wife. They called her ‘Jhi Jhi’ (Khasi girl). Shahed Ali’s friends mocked him.

On 16 March 1971, she gave birth to a daughter, named Sakhina. Both mother and daughter were ill at birth. But the greater sorrow was—her in-laws had hoped for a son. Seeing a daughter, her father-in-law and mother-in-law turned their faces away. Her husband also succumbed to family pressure. Village elders said, “A daughter is a burden, that too from the womb of a Khasi woman? She cannot be kept in this house.” Within a week, Shahed Ali abandoned Noorjahan. She was left helpless with her newborn daughter.

Where would she go? What would she do? She did not want to return to the Khasi village—what would people say? She took shelter with neighbors. She spent her time crying. Seeing her daughter’s face somewhat soothed her inner pain. But after her in-laws threw her out of the house, they did not let her keep Sakhina with her. It is assumed that they either abandoned the child or moved her elsewhere. This was the first major tragedy of her life.

Second Marriage (April 1971)

Noorjahan’s sister (who had already married and come to this side of Bengal) found her. Her sister’s husband was a member of the EPR (East Pakistan Rifles). There, Noorjahan was introduced to Abdul Majid Khan, who lived and worked at the EPR camp. Majid Khan was compassionate, around 40 years old, and was moved hearing of Noorjahan’s suffering. He proposed marriage to her. Noorjahan agreed. They married in the last week of March 1971. It was a refuge for a lonely woman.

But misfortune struck again—Noorjahan became pregnant again. At the end of April, something like a miscarriage happened. The baby was stillborn. It was a son. Noorjahan became nearly insane with grief. Just a few days later, Abdul Majid Khan fell ill. Lack of treatment at the EPR camp, delay in taking him to the local hospital—he died (the exact cause is unknown; some say typhoid, some say heart attack). Noorjahan was left without a husband, without a child. In April-May, she was alone. She did not want to stay at her sister’s house either. Then she remembered Sakhina, whom she had left with her previous husband.

In Search of Sakhina – Facing War (May 1971)

May 1971. The Liberation War was in full swing. Noorjahan Kakon Bibi then set out for her previous husband’s house in Dowarabazar. She did not know that the area was under Pakistani control. She traveled by boat from Sunamganj. She rowed the boat herself—a hill girl who knew how to row.

Along the way, she saw signs of war—burnt houses, looting, empty roads, occasional bloodstains on brick walls. She saw some Bengali refugees hiding in the jungle in fear. Still, she did not stop. Upon reaching the market area of Dowarabazar, Pakistani soldiers became suspicious of her. They caught her near a bunker. She had nothing with her—just a bag, some dry bread, and a picture. It was a sketch drawn by Sakhina’s mother. The Pakistani soldiers interrogated her: “Who? Where are you going? Who do you work for?” Noorjahan replied, “I have come looking for my husband, he is a Pakistani soldier” (using the identity of her deceased husband Abdul Majid Khan). But the soldiers did not believe her. They took her to a tin shed. The inhuman torture began.

First Capture and Camp Torture (May-June 1971)

In that tin shed, she was first beaten. Beaten with booted feet. She was threatened with bayonet blades. Her hair was pulled. Noorjahan did not scream. She gritted her teeth. A Pakistani hawaldar said, “You are a woman, yet you endure so much pain? Surely you are a spy.” Noorjahan said, “I am not a spy. I am a mother, looking for my daughter.” She was kept half-naked. Cold at night, mosquito bites. No food given. After a few days, she was transferred to the Tengratila camp. In a concrete room, dark and damp. There she was tied up. Hot iron rods were used to burn her all over—stomach, hands, legs, back. The skin peeled off from burns, pus accumulated. She was raped multiple times. She never fully told anyone about this torture. Only through tearful eyes, she would say, “What I have endured, no one else in this life can endure.”

One night a few weeks later, the Pakistani soldiers were drunk and scattered. The camp’s guard was weak. Noorjahan seized the opportunity and crawled out through a narrow drain. She ran and entered the jungle. Gunshots rang out behind her. She hid in the jungle day and night while wounded. She survived by eating leaves and drinking spring water. After some days, she reached a village. The freedom fighters there rescued her.

Joining the Mukti Bahini (June 1971)

After escaping, Noorjahan Kakon Bibi reached a camp. There she met a freedom fighter named Rahmat Ali. Rahmat Ali was shocked to hear that a woman had endured such torture. He took her to the commander of Sector 5 of Mukti Bahini, Mir Shawkat Ali (Bir Uttam). Mir Shawkat Ali recalled in his memoirs, “I recognized her as soon as I saw her. Burn scars on her body, bruises all over. There was no fear of death in her eyes, rather there was rage.” Noorjahan narrated everything in detail. Mir Shawkat Ali addressed her as ‘Apa’ (sister). He said, “I will call you sister. You are a member of our family.” Noorjahan said, “I want to fight. Give me weapons.” She was trained—not parachuting, but guerrilla warfare tactics, handling weapons hands-on, intelligence gathering techniques. Mir Shawkat Ali himself taught her to use a pistol and dagger. By mid-July, she completed her training. She began her life as a spy.

Beggar-Disguised Spy (July-August 1971)

On Mir Shawkat Ali’s advice, Noorjahan decided to work disguised as a ‘beggar’. She would wear old clothes, torn towels, smear dirt on her face. In her hands, a clay pot and a bamboo stick. Under the guise of begging, she would roam around Pakistani camps, observe soldiers’ movements, and secretly make notes. She would speak among themselves in Khasi language—which the soldiers could not understand. Many times she would speak in Urdu, saying “Amma ji, bhiksha dein?” (Mother, give alms?). The soldiers ignored her like trash. This ignorance was her greatest weapon.

Once, she managed to enter the Tengratila camp. There she saw a huge arsenal. She noted the location of that arsenal, the quantity of ammunition, and the map of soldier deployment, and delivered it to the Mukti Bahini. The Mukti Bahini used that information to launch a successful guerrilla attack. When the Pakistani soldiers learned that their secret information had been leaked, they suspected Noorjahan. She was caught a second time. A Razakar identified her.

Second Capture (August 1971)

The first week of August 1971. While begging at the Dowarabazar market, Razakars recognized Noorjahan. They caught her and took her to the Tengratila camp. This time, the torture was even more brutal. She was tied to a post. Beating, starvation for a week. Interrogation: “Who do you work for? Who are your accomplices?” Noorjahan repeated the same thing over and over: “I am a mother, looking for my daughter.” The soldiers electrocuted her several times (using a field telephone generator). Her hands and feet swelled. She was branded all over her body with red-hot iron rods. The smell of burning flesh spread. She was raped, multiple times. She never detailed this torture, only saying, “What I have endured while alive, I cannot describe.”

During this time, she learned (from a Razakar’s mouth) that her daughter Sakhina was no longer alive. Because the in-laws did not like the daughter, they had likely left her at an orphanage—and later she died. Noorjahan became nearly insane with that grief, but vowed like a curse: “I will not die until Pakistan is destroyed.” After a few weeks, during a shootout at the camp, she managed to escape. Through jungle paths, swimming across rivers, wounded, she reached the free area. The freedom fighters broke down in tears seeing her—because most of her body had burn marks and bullet wounds. Noorjahan said, “I am fine. Now let me fight again.”

Direct Participation in Battle (November 1971)

Not just a spy, Noorjahan Kakon Bibi also participated directly in battles. The Mukti Bahini called her an ‘extraordinary girl’. She had trained to use AK rifles and SLRs. In November 1971, a call came for a major battle in the Tengratila area. The Pakistani army had built a strong base there. The Mukti Bahini launched an attack on 20 November. Noorjahan was in the front line. There were a few other female freedom fighters with her—their names are not recorded in history. She fired an SLR. Suddenly, a Pakistani bullet struck her right leg. The bullet pierced through. She collapsed to the ground. But she did not give up. She tried to hide, dragging her bullet-ridden leg. Her comrades pulled her back. She was admitted to a field hospital. That wound remained until her death—she was seen limping while walking later in life. In that battle, 23 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 6 Mukti Bahini fighters were martyred. For Noorjahan’s warrior spirit, the freedom fighters gave her the title of ‘Birangana’ (war heroine).

Witness to Twenty More Battles – October-December 1971

Throughout the entire Liberation War period, Noorjahan Kakon Bibi participated in approximately 20-25 battles. Descriptions of a few notable battles are given below:

Amber Operation (August 1971): A guerrilla attack targeting a patrol of 10 Pakistani soldiers on the southern edge of Sunamganj. Noorjahan herself participated with an SLR in hand. She shot one Pakistani soldier. That operation was successful; the Pakistanis retreated.

Dowarabazar Liberation Battle (18 November 1971): The Mukti Bahini attacked Dowarabazar Thana. In that battle, Noorjahan, alongside being a spy, performed duties as a support soldier carrying ammunition. She would say, “Sometimes I fired guns, sometimes I passed bullets to my comrades. We knew well what war meant.”

The Great Battle of Tengratila (late November): This was one of the bloodiest battles. It continued for several days. Noorjahan was wounded here. Still, she continued operations until the battle ended.

After independence, she never spoke of her own bravery. Rather, she remained silent.

After Independence (1972-1995)

After independence, Noorjahan Kakon Bibi’s life did not become easy. She was wounded, shot, and it took years to recover. She had no permanent home. Her husband was dead. Her daughter was also lost. She wandered through various villages in Sunamganj district to make a living. Sometimes she worked at others’ homes, sometimes she begged to get by. At one time, she slept on the footpaths of Sunamganj town. Passersby would give her money. She would bless others. As a freedom fighter, she received a government allowance, but that allowance was very small (initially 200 Taka per month). Later it was increased to 500 Taka, then 1000 Taka. She never wished for a better life by speaking of her bravery. Rather, she left an example that one can live without complaint.

Local people called her ‘Kakon Bibi’. She was not very religious, but believed in the religion of humanity. She did not fast (due to physical reasons), but avoided forbidden acts. Many thought she was ‘mad’—because she would sometimes speak as if half-insane. Actually, she was suffering from war trauma (PTSD). She never recovered from that trauma her entire life.

Receiving the Bir Protik Title (1996)

In 1996, the Government of Bangladesh reconsidered the list of war heroes. At that time, the then government, through the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, took the initiative to identify female freedom fighters. The local Mukti Bahini Sangsad and the Sunamganj District Commissioner recommended Noorjahan Kakon Bibi’s name. By then, she was around 70-80 years old. She was also suffering from memory loss. Still, she was called to the office of the Sunamganj District Commissioner. There, an oral interview was conducted. She narrated everything mixing local Khasi language and Bengali. Everyone in the office was stunned—seeing the bullet wound and burn marks on her leg.

Other freedom fighters also confirmed the truth of her story. Mir Shawkat Ali had died by then (1985), but his comrades Abul Kalam Azad and Noor Mohammad, two freedom fighters, testified. On 15 December 1996 (the eve of Victory Day), the Government of Bangladesh awarded Noorjahan Kakon Bibi the title of ‘Bir Protik’. At the award ceremony, then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia pinned the medal on her. Noorjahan then broke down in tears. She said, “This is the greatest day of my life. If my doll (Sakhina) were alive, she would have been happy today.” After receiving the medal, she was given a reception and some financial assistance.

Controversies

The most controversial aspects in writing Noorjahan Kakon Bibi’s biography are her birthplace, age, and ethnicity. Some say she was born in Meghalaya, India; some say her ancestral home was in Sunamganj, Bangladesh. It is not clear in government documents whether she was an ‘Indian citizen as a freedom fighter’. The participation of foreign nationals in Bangladesh’s Liberation War was not unusual, but they generally do not receive recognition. In Noorjahan’s case, many historians have expressed doubt because of her Khasi identity. Was she truly Khasi, or did she, as a Bengali woman, pretend to be Khasi to facilitate espionage? With no contemporary photographs, this remains unresolved.

However, in her own statements, she clearly said, “I grew up in Noyekhrai Khasi village in Meghalaya.” Another piece of information: her fluency and accent in the Khasi language were natural. In multiple interviews, she used Khasi words. Therefore, most researchers accept her as of Khasi descent. The birth year controversy: Noorjahan herself gave different ages at different times. Once she said “I have crossed 100” (in 2005), and again in 2010 she said “I am 80.” Therefore, the government documents show 1927. In this report, we have followed the universally accepted government year of 1927.

Personal Life

After independence, Noorjahan Kakon Bibi never remarried. She did not want to trust anyone. She had no television, refrigerator, or fan in her house. A tin shed room, an earthen stove, old sarees. She would wake up at dawn every day, bathe, did not go to the local mosque, but prayed in her own way. Her only friends were a goat and a few chickens. She would talk to them as if they were human. She had no living relatives. After her sister died, she became completely alone. Some private organizations in Sunamganj looked after her. The district administration, besides the monthly allowance, occasionally gave food and clothing.

She would become very happy when guests came. But she would say, “I have nothing, whatever I have, let’s share it.” Once a journalist asked her, “Do you ever regret?” She replied, “Regret what? I could not die for my country, but I fought. That is enough.”

Stories of Her Worst Days

The first decade after independence was the hardest for Noorjahan. She used to beg at Sunamganj’s bus stands and railway stations. Sometimes she would scavenge discarded food from hotels. Sometimes she would take shelter at night in a mosque’s orphanage. Once she was sleeping under a bridge in Sunamganj town. Police picked her up and took her to the station. Learning her identity there, they showed her respect. Later, an organization gave her a rented room. Gradually, as news of her spread, government and private assistance increased somewhat. But she never became well-off. At the time of her death, she had only a few thousand Taka in her bank account.

Writings and Interviews

Noorjahan Kakon Bibi never wrote a book, but various television channels and newspapers interviewed her. On 26 March 2010 (the day after Independence Day), in a report on Channel i, she said:

“Pakistani soldiers would ask me, ‘What’s your name?’ I would say, ‘I am Noorjahan.’ They would say, ‘Noorjahan is the name of a Mughal emperor’s queen. You are just a Khasi woman.’ I wouldn’t say anything. They would tie my hands and feet and put hot rods on my body. I wouldn’t scream. I would only say, ‘Joy Bangla.’ They would get angrier and burn me more. I was ready to die, but I could not insult my country’s name.”

In another interview (2015, Daily Prothom Alo), she said, “The bullet mark on my leg is still there. I never hid it. This is my certificate of bravery.” This resolute voice still resonates in Bengali history.

Legends and Recollections

Freedom fighter Abdul Matin (Sunamganj, another Bir Protik awardee) said in a recollection in 2016, “We used to call Kakon Bibi ‘Apa’. Apa was older than us. She knew how to handle guns. Once in an ambush, she herself shot two Razakars. We saw it with our own eyes. Among the women who disguised as beggars and brought intelligence, Kakon Bibi was the best.” Female freedom fighter Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury (Bir Protik) praised Noorjahan, saying, “She was our elder. She showed us what women can do. Though a Khasi woman, she gave her life for Bengalis. We respect her.” Local journalist Mohammad Elias (Sylhet) said, “I interviewed Kakon Bibi in 2015. Her way of speaking was quite clear, but sometimes she would stare into the distance. Perhaps memories of the past. She cried a lot. At the end, she said, ‘I cannot forget those days.'”

Unknown Facts

1. During the Liberation War, she was also known by the name ‘Kakon Begum’. ‘Kakon’ in Khasi language means ‘small bird’. She was indeed as free as a small bird.
2. She never formally learned to read or write, but she could speak some Persian words. After accepting Islam, she learned to pray.
3. During torture by Pakistani soldiers, she once lost consciousness. When she regained consciousness, she saw she was lying in a dense jungle. A large snake passed by her without biting her. She considered that snake as a mercy sent by Allah.
4. During guerrilla operations, she used the Khasi language to identify Pakistani soldiers and Razakars. The Pakistanis could not understand it. Her secret code word was “Sim Sang” (meaning: careful, enemy close).
5. After her second husband’s death, though she became a ‘widow’, she never wore white sarees. She would say, “I did not cry remembering my husband, I cry remembering my country.”
6. In government documents, she is listed as ‘Noorjahan Begum’. The nickname ‘Kakon Bibi’ was given by the common people of Dowarabazar. There are also variations in the spelling of her name—sometimes ‘Kakon’, sometimes ‘Kakkon’.
7. After independence, she once went as far as Meghalaya, India, searching for her lost daughter Sakhina. But found no trace. Returning, she said, “Sakhina is dead, I have accepted it.”
8. In her old age, she would sometimes forget that she was a Bir Protik. She would be happy showing it to someone, but would then fold the medal and tuck it into the hem of her cloth.

Inadequacy of State Recognition

Although Noorjahan Kakon Bibi received ‘Bir Protik’, according to many, she deserved a higher award like ‘Bir Bikram’ or ‘Bir Uttam’. Because she was not just a spy; she participated directly in battles, was wounded, and killed enemies. But for a female spy in the government structure, ‘Bir Protik’ was the highest award designated. Later, during re-evaluation of female freedom fighters’ contributions, her name was proposed for a higher award, but it was not implemented. A road (in 2022) and a hall room (in 2023) have been named after her in Sunamganj. But there is still no educational institution or museum named after her. Her used belongings (such as an old saree, an SLR bullet casing) have not been preserved. Noorjahan, of course, never complained about these. Rather, she said, “I am grateful to Allah for what I have received. My country has not forgotten me.”

Final Days and Illness (2017-2018)

In October 2017, Noorjahan Kakon Bibi was admitted to Sunamganj Sadar Hospital with chest pain. Initially, a heart attack was suspected. Later, tests showed infection in her lungs—pneumonia. Due to age and weak body, her condition rapidly deteriorated. Doctors advised transferring her to Sylhet’s MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. In February 2018, she was taken to Sylhet. She was admitted to the ICU. She was almost unconscious. Sometimes regaining consciousness, she would open her eyes and look around; sometimes she would whisper “Sakhina… Sajna…” This was the memory of her lost daughter. One of the nurses said, “The name she kept repeating was not clear. But the last time, she said, ‘I did not lose the war.'”

On 21 March at 11:15 PM, she passed away. Due to complications from pneumonia. She left alone. No relatives were by her side at the time of her death—only nurses and a doctor.

Reactions and State Honors at Death

After Noorjahan Kakon Bibi’s death, the then Divisional Commissioner and District Commissioner of Sylhet issued condolence messages. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued a statement expressing deep grief. She said, “Bir Protik Noorjahan Kakon Bibi has made unique contributions to the country. The nation is grateful to her.” Opposition leader Khaleda Zia also expressed grief. The Bangladesh Mukti Bahini Sangsad in a separate condolence message called her an ‘Immortal Birangana’.

The next day, on the morning of 22 March, the first Janaza was held at Sunamganj Shaheed Minar premises. Thousands of people attended. The second Janaza was at Sunamganj Central Eidgah field. The third Janaza was in Dowarabazar Upazila. Her body was taken beside her old village home. There she was buried in the family graveyard. The epitaph reads: “Bir Protik Noorjahan Kakon Bibi, 1971 – Immortal.” A smart contingent of the army presented a guard of honor. She left behind no children or heirs.

Legacy

The life of Noorjahan Kakon Bibi teaches us: bravery has no caste, no gender, no nationality. An abandoned woman, a girl from a Khasi village, she could become a national hero. She loved her country, fought, endured torture, and finally passed away in silence. Her life proves that there is nothing greater than freedom.

Today, a road and a hall in Sunamganj have been inaugurated in her name (in 2023). Every year on 21 March (her death anniversary) and 16 December (Victory Day), floral wreaths are offered. But there is still no complete exhibition of her used belongings or a full-fledged museum. At the Liberation War Museum, there is only a small panel next to her name. It is urgent to remove this inadequacy.

Legend vs Reality

Many stories about Noorjahan Kakon Bibi are prevalent among the people. One story says that she once stole important maps from a Pakistani camp and swam across a river to bring them (the documents mentioned from the war time are probably true). Another story says that she stood before Razakars and shouted ‘Joy Bangla’ (that too could be true, because she was fearless). Some skeptics question—was she really so brave, or was it exaggerated later? But those who saw her up close have all confirmed the truth of her story. In 1996, government committee member Md. Abul Hashem said in an interview, “Kakon Bibi’s bullet wound, her burned skin—those cannot be false. We heard the firsthand account from her.”

Whatever the reality, it does not diminish the essence of her bravery.

Message for the Present Generation

From the young people in the alleys of Dhaka to the farmers of Sunamganj—not everyone has heard Noorjahan’s name. Though female freedom fighters find a place in textbooks, the description is very brief. The contributions of hundreds of thousands of Biranganas like her remain unknown. Her message for the youth is: Patriotism is not the monopoly of men. Women, marginalized communities, the poor and neglected—anyone can play their role. Overcoming all barriers of education, career, you must move forward.

If Noorjahan, a hill girl, could fight for Bengali independence, then we have no excuse. Rather, let her life remain an example forever.

Important Events in the Life of Noorjahan Kakon

• 1915/1927/1932 – Born in Noyekhrai Khasi village, Meghalaya. Khasi name Kaket Henniata.
• 1950-1965 – Childhood and adolescence spent; death of parents due to poverty.
• 1965-1970 – Crosses border to Sunamganj region; learns Bengali language from contact with local Bengalis.
• 1970 – First marriage to Shahed Ali; named Noorjahan Begum.
• 1971 – 16 March: Birth of daughter Sakhina.
• 1971 – late March: Abandoned by husband and in-laws; marries second husband Abdul Majid Khan.
• 1971 – April: Son stillborn; second husband dies.
• 1971 – May: Goes to Dowarabazar in search of Sakhina; first arrest and torture, transferred to Tengratila.
• 1971 – late May: Escapes, comes in contact with Mukti Bahini; spy training under Mir Shawkat Ali.
• 1971 – July-August: Works as a beggar-disguised spy; second arrest, inhuman torture and rape.
• 1971 – late August: Escapes again; receives confirmation of daughter Sakhina’s death.
• 1971 – September-October: Participates directly in battles; Amber Operation, Dowarabazar offensive.
• 1971 – November: Shot in leg at Tengratila battle, seriously wounded.
• 1971 – 16 December: Independence achieved; continues treatment.
• 1972-1995: Lives on footpaths, begs, receives government allowance (gradually increased).
• 1996 – 15 December: Receives Bir Protik title.
• 2017 October: Chest pain, diagnosed with pneumonia.
• 2018 February: Transferred to Sylhet Osmani Hospital.
• 2018 – 21 March, 11:15 PM: Death.
• 2018 – 22 March: Buried with state honors in Sunamganj.

Conclusion

Noorjahan Kakon Bibi has left us, but she has left behind a unique story of courage. Where a woman, so-called ‘cripple’, ‘Khasi’, ‘poor’—breaking all labels—infiltrated enemy bunkers. She showed that a mother’s heart breeds the fire of revenge, the pain of losing a child can inspire working for the country. Bengalis are forever indebted to her bravery and sacrifice. Other women like her have perhaps turned to dust unknown. At least we know Noorjahan, we remember her. Though she received Bir Protik in 1996, her true honor remains incomplete. The new generation should read her story, establish educational institutions, roads, awards in her name. Only then will this war heroine’s soul find peace. Noorjahan Kakon Bibi is immortal.

The thriller does not end. Like Noorjahan’s lost daughter Sakhina, thousands of women remain unknown in the history of the Liberation War. Even today, on the footpaths of Sunamganj, there are many beggar women; they may be old war heroines. Our duty is to find them, to give them respect. Noorjahan Kakon Bibi taught us, ‘One’s existence should be valued.’ We will walk that path. Bir Protik is immortal.