Bibha Gosh Goswami (12 January 1934 – 3 February 2022) was an Indian politician who represented

Nabadwip Nabadwip (), also spelt Navadwip, historically known as Nadia, is a heritage city in Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is regarded as a holy place by Hindus, and is the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Located on the wes ...

West Bengal West Bengal (; Bengali language, Bengali: , , abbr. WB) is a States and union territories of India, state in the East India, eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabi ...

(a constituency reserved for scheduled castes) in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th

Lok Sabha The Lok Sabha, also known as the House of the People, is the lower house of Parliament of India which is Bicameralism, bicameral, where the upper house is Rajya Sabha. Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by a ...

. She was a member of the

Communist Party of India (Marxist) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (abbreviated as CPI(M)) is a Communism in India, communist List of political parties in India, political party in India. It is the largest communist party in India in terms of membership and electora ...

Early life and education

Bibha Gosh was on born on 12 January 1934, in Hidia Village, East Bengal (now

Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...

) to parents Banamali Goswami and Smt. Sudhamani. She is a member of a scheduled caste. She attended M.S.T.P. Girls High School in

Jessore Jessore (, ), officially Jashore, is a city of Jessore District in Khulna Division. It lies in southwestern Bangladesh. It is home to the first flight training school of the Bangladeshi Air Force, established in 1971. Jessore city consists of 9 wa ...

and

Brahmo Balika Shikshalaya The Brahmo Balika Shikshalaya is a girls' school in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It is guided by the principles of the Brahmo Samaj movement. It was established on 16 May 1890 by the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj on the 12th anniversary of its foundat ...

in Calcutta. She went to college at Lady Brabourne (Calcutta, Krishnagar Government College, and University Teachers Training Institute (Calcutta).

Career

Lok Sabha

Bibha Gosh Goswami served in the fifth Lok Sabha from 1971–77, the sixth Lok Sabha from 1977-1979, the seventh Lok Sabha from 1980-1984 and the eighth Lok Sabha. During her time in the Lok Subha, she was also on the Consultative Committee on Ministry of Education, Social Welfare and Culture from 1977-1984 and on the Joint Committee on Hindu Marriage Act (Amendment) in 1981. In 1983 she introduced Bill 81 which was to provide for equal pay for women and men, which was promised by the constitution but Bibha Gosh stated that it was not followed through. The bill was passed. In 1985 Bibha introduced Bill 37 to provide for the Welfare of Women employed in industries to provide them with resources. The Bill lapsed. She was also involved in the Commission on Sati Prevention Act. 1987. Where most of her focus was on reframing the idea that Sati could be voluntary.

Associations and offices

Goswami was the president of the West Bengal Democratic Women's Association, Nadia District from 1972. She served as the Vice-President from 1974 to 1979. She was also on the executive committee of

All India Democratic Women's Association All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) is a women's organisation committed to achieving democracy, equality and Women's rights, women's emancipation. It has an organisational presence in 23 states in India, with a current membership o ...

from 1981. Goswami held various offices in the All Bengal Teachers' Association from 1960, and was on the West Bengal State Welfare Advisory Committee from 1977 to 1982.

Personal life and death

Goswami's hobbies included education and history, and she particularly enjoyed the music of Ravindra Sangeet. She died on 3 February 2022, at the age of 88.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Goswami, Bibha Ghosh 1934 births 2022 deaths Women members of the Lok Sabha Communist Party of India (Marxist) politicians from West Bengal India MPs 1971–1977 India MPs 1977–1979 India MPs 1980–1984 India MPs 1984–1989 Lok Sabha members from West Bengal Politicians from Nadia district 20th-century Indian women 20th-century Indian people