Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tribute to Odisha’s freedom fighter Parbati Giri during his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat'.

In his address, the Prime Minister said that as the country prepares to celebrate its 77th Republic Day next month, it is important to remember the sacrifices made by freedom fighters and the architects of the Constitution. He noted that India’s struggle for independence saw contributions from every part of the country, but many heroes, including several women, did not receive the recognition they deserved.

Highlighting Parbati Giri’s role, Modi said her birth centenary will be observed in January 2026. He recalled that she joined the Quit India Movement at the young age of 16, showing remarkable courage and commitment to the freedom struggle.

The Prime Minister also spoke about her life after Independence, saying that Parbati Giri devoted herself to social service and tribal welfare. She set up several orphanages and worked tirelessly for the upliftment of marginalised communities.

Calling her life deeply inspiring, Modi said Parbati Giri’s dedication and service would continue to guide future generations. He concluded by paying his heartfelt tribute to the freedom fighter from Odisha.

More about Parbati Giri

Taking a peek into Parbati’s earlier life, she was born on January 19, 1926, in Samlaipadar village near Bijepur block of Bargarh district in Odisha. Influenced by her uncle Ramchandra Giri’s work as the then Congress leader in the locality, Parbati dropped out of school after class three and started campaigning for Congress. When she turned 12 years old, some senior Congress leaders in the locality convinced her father to allow her to work for the Congress and thus, began her unconventional journey.

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During her young age, Parbati went to Bari Ashram, and there she took lessons in handicrafts, philosophy of Ahimsa and self-reliance.  By the year 1940, she became a part of several campaigns and travelled to various places, including Sambalpur and villages in Bargarh like Padampur and Ghens, for Congress. During her expedition, she taught the villagers how to spin and weave khadi.

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She was one of the front liners in the 1942’s Mahatma Gandhi-led ‘Quit India’ Movement and was arrested several times. But she was just 16 years old then, a minor in the eyes of the law and thus, the cops had to release her.  However, she later served two years’ rigorous imprisonment at Sambalpur Jail under charges of invading the Sub Divisional Officer’s (SDO) office at Bargarh. Even during her jail terms, Parbati managed to stage an agitation in order to persuade the lawyers to boycott the court in defiance of the British.

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In 1950, after attaining independence, Parbati went to Allahabad’s Prayag Mahila Vidyapitha to complete her schooling. Her service to the nation continued with several social works that she kept volunteering for every now and then.  She had teamed up with Rama Devi in her relief work in 1994, and in 1995, she signed up for an American project for the betterment of health and hygiene of the people of Sambalpur district. Among her other contributions were:

  • She founded an orphanage at Bargaon’s Paikamal village and worked for the welfare of several orphans.
  • She became a part of Acharya Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan Movement (Land Gift Movement) in 1951.
  • She worked for the eradication of leprosy and also jail improvement.

In 1998, Parbati Giri was laurelled an Honorary Doctorate by Sambalpur University by the Governor of Odisha. Later, in 2016, the Odisha Government under Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a Rs. 7,600 crore worth mega lift irrigation scheme and named it the ‘Parbati Giri Mega Lift Irrigation Scheme’ in honour of Parbati Giri, an exemplar of women’s empowerment.