Page 55 - Mann Ki Baat (English)

Parbati Giri (January 19, 1926 -
August 17, 1995) is regarded as
the ‘Mother Teresa of Western
Odisha’ because of her selfless
services to mankind.
She used to accompany her
uncle, Ramachandra Giri to the
meetings of Congress leaders
who were planning strategies
against British rule. She dropped
out of school at the age of 11 to
join them.
In 1938, she left home to
completely dedicate her life to
the freedom struggle and social
works.
In 1940, she travelled from village
to village and inspired people to
join Gandhi ji’s Khadi Movement.
She herself learnt the art of
weaving and handicrafts.
She was jailed for two years
because she sat on Bargarh’s
SDO’s chair behaving like a judge
and ordered the boys with her
to tie the SDO with ropes like a
culprit.
She once went to Bargarh court
ordering lawyers to vacate the
court and stop cooperating with
the British in the matters of law.
In 1984, she was awarded a prize
by the Department of Social
Welfare and had also earned
an honorary Doctorate from
the University of Sambalpur in
1988 for her contribution in the
freedom struggle and to the
society, including the time of 1951
famine in Odisha.

55
55