Kabonmili Timungpi (Bonily Khongmen) is remembered as a pioneering leader who broke several barriers by becoming Assam’s first woman Member of Parliament, the first Karbi Member of Parliament, and one of the earliest women political leaders from Northeast India.

About Kabonmili Timungpi

• Kabonmili Timungpi (Bonily Khongmen) was born on 25 June 1912 and belonged to the Karbi community of Assam.
• She was a leader of the Indian National Congress and became Assam’s first woman Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha).
• She was elected from the Autonomous District constituency in the first General Elections (1951–52) and served as a member of the First Lok Sabha (1952–1957).
• She was also the first Karbi person to be elected to the Lok Sabha.

Educational Achievements

• She was the first among Karbi to have passed Metric then, Intermediate Arts(1928-29), first BA, MA among Karbis.
• She completed her BA in 1932, and completed her MA (1935–36) from Shillong Meghalaya.

Contributions to Public Life

• Before entering politics, she served as Headmistress in several schools across Golaghat and Shillong, contributing significantly to girls’ education.
• In 1946, she was elected to the Assam Legislative Assembly from the Shillong Reserved Constituency.
• She became the first woman Deputy Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly.
• In 1955, she represented India as a delegate at the Tenth Session of the United Nations General Assembly, reflecting India’s growing international engagement after Independence.

Contribution to Public Administration

• She later became the first woman Chairperson of the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) (1963).
• She was also the first person from Northeast India to be appointed as a Member of the UPSC (1963).
• After retirement, she served as the first Chairperson of the Kohima Public Service Commission (1970-73) and later chaired the Nagaland Salary Commission.

Exam Hook – Prelims

Q. With reference to Kabonmili Timungpi (Bonily Khongmen), consider the following statements:

1. She was Assam’s first woman Member of Parliament.
2. She was the first woman Deputy Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly.
3. She later became the first woman Chairperson of the Assam Public Service Commission.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 
(d) 1 and 3 only

One-line Wrap

Kabonmili Timungpi (Bonily Khongmen) was a pioneering leader who opened new avenues for women, tribal communities and the people of Northeast India through her remarkable contributions to politics, education and public administration.