A former Guyana beauty queen, Ms. Das was educated at the University of Guyana and the University of the West Indies. She also earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Columbia University in New York, and an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Chicago.

Her last book of poetry, Bones, was published by Peepal Press of London in 1988. It is available from Marginal Distribution, 277 George Street, North, Unit 102, Peterborough, ON, K9J 3G9 - Canada: marginal@marginalbook.com; phone (705) 745-2326.

Ms. Das was active in trying to find a nonracial solution to Guyana's social and political problems. A member of the Working People's Alliance, Ms. Das was influenced by the late Guyanese scholar and author, Walter Rodney.

Her poetry gave voice to the voiceless women of the South East Asian diaspora, long before that movement was in vogue. She was mentored by Rajkumari Singh, and worked to elevate the status of Indo-Carribean heritage at home and abroad. Her early work appeared in Kyk-over-Al, Guyana's official literary magazine, edited for years by AJ Seymour and Ian McDonald. Briefly in the mid-1980s she wrote for the Indo-Caribbean News (later the Inter-Caribbean News), a monthly published in Toronto, Canada, by Mark Maharaj.

Known as "Millie" or "Sister Millie" to family, from her Guyanese "home name," Millicent, Ms. Das at an early age undertook the care and rearing of her younger siblings following her mother's death. She had a passion for people, ideas and books.