Parbati Giri, nicknamed "The Mother Teresa of Western Odisha" by former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik, was a prominent female freedom fighter and social reformer from Odisha, India. Her fearless participation in India's freedom struggle and lifelong dedication to orphans and the destitute has made her an enduring symbol of selfless service.
Born on 19 January 1926 in Samlaipadar village near Bijepur (present-day Bargarh district), Parbati Giri was the daughter of Dhananjay Giri and grew up in a family deeply connected to the nationalist movement. Despite dropping out of school after class three, she became one of the youngest and most fearless freedom fighters of Western Odisha.
Early Life
Giri was born into a Gauntia family in Samlaipadar village of the undivided Sambalpur district. Her father, Dhananjay Giri, and mother, Srimati Giri, had four children—two sons (Jankiram and Lal Bihari) and two daughters (Parbati and Yosabanti). Parbati was the second child.
Known for her stubborn attitude, she was popularly called "Jokhei" or "Bauri" during childhood. She studied only up to class III in the village primary school before dropping out to pursue her passion for the freedom movement.
"The freedom struggle and its ideals and philosophy had created a great spirit of nationalism among millions of Indians. Parbati Giri, a mere girl of eleven years, was not left untouched."
The prevailing circumstances around her contributed greatly to inculcating patriotic fervour. Her home was an important center of Congress activities where leaders like Laxminarayan Mishra, Bhagirathi Pattnaik, Ghanashyam Panigrahi, Nrusingha Guru, Durga Prasad Guru, and Dayananda Satapathy would assemble. Her paternal uncle, Ramachandra Giri, was an eminent Congress worker, and young Parbati would often accompany him to these meetings.
Joining the Freedom Movement
In 1937, when Malati Choudhury and Nabakrushna Choudhury visited Samlaipadar to discuss Gandhian programmes of village reconstruction, the young Parbati met Malati Choudhury and expressed her desire to serve the nation. Moved by the small girl's determination, Malati Devi told her: "Just wait for few years and then Rama Devi will take you to her Bari Ashram for training."
Soon after, at a meeting presided over by Bhagirathi Pattnaik, the Congress Committee was so impressed by her extraordinary zeal that they unanimously allowed her to join as a worker. Bhagirathi Pattnaik wrote in his personal diary about the little girl whose patriotism touched his heart.
Training at Bari Ashram (1938-1940)
In 1938, Parbati Giri and Prabhavati Devi were taken to Bari Ashram by Jambuvati Devi and Bhagirathi Pattnaik. The ashram, established after Gandhiji's historic Harijan Padayatra in Odisha, was modeled after the Sabarmati Ashram. Under the guidance of Rama Devi and Gopabandhu Choudhury, Parbati learned:
- Khadi spinning and weaving
- Handicrafts and cottage industries
- The philosophy of Ahimsa and self-reliance
- Adult education and women's upliftment
- Hindi as the national language
The Quit India Movement
After returning from Bari Ashram in 1940, Parbati worked as a coordinator in the Sambalpur District Congress Committee, though she was not officially a member due to being under 18. She undertook extensive tours to villages like Bargarh, Borasambar, Panimura, Sarandapalli, Padampur, and Fatmunda, preaching Gandhian principles. With Prabhavati Devi, she started spinning activities in Sarandapalli village with fifty charkhas.
Fearless Acts of Defiance
When the Quit India Resolution was passed on 8 August 1942, and Congress leaders were arrested, Parbati Giri stepped up to keep the movement alive in Sambalpur region. Her acts of defiance became legendary:
Public Rallies
She organized a public meeting at Marwari Dharmasala, Bargarh, with students from George High School. Leading processions, she shouted slogans like "Do or Die," "Bharat Chhodo," and "British Sarkar Hatao" while carrying the tricolour.
Bangles to Lawyers
When advocates at Bargarh Court refused to boycott proceedings, Parbati Giri offered them bangles as a symbol of their cowardice. The humiliated lawyers finally left the court.
Occupation of SDO's Chamber
In her most audacious act, she entered the chamber of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and occupied his chair. She appointed her colleagues Biranchi Pradhan as peon and Abhimanyu Bhoi as lawyer. When the SDO entered, she began "prosecuting" him as an anti-national and murderer. She was immediately arrested.
Imprisonment
Though released multiple times due to being a minor, she was finally arrested for distributing anti-British placards and sentenced to two years' rigorous imprisonment at Sambalpur Jail. In prison, she continued her work—teaching illiterate women, spinning charkha, and keeping abreast of freedom struggle developments through newspapers.
She was released in July 1944 along with other leaders like Nrusingha Guru, Durga Prasad Guru, Ghanashyam Panigrahi, and Laxminarayan Mishra.
Meeting Mahatma Gandhi
After her release from jail in 1944, Parbati traveled to Wardha with her uncle Ramachandra Puri to meet Gandhiji. When they reached, it was a Friday—Gandhiji's day of silence. When she met him and fell at his feet, he simply patted her on her back.
The next day, she witnessed a meeting addressed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Chakravarthy Rajagopalachari. Before the meeting, all participants spent half an hour in spinning thread—an experience that deepened her commitment to Gandhian ideals.
Lifelong Social Service
After independence, Parbati Giri completed her schooling at Prayag Mahila Vidyapith, Allahabad in 1950. However, her restless soul sought to serve humanity directly. Her post-independence journey included:
Joined Kasturba Memorial Trust at Bari Ashram under Rama Devi's supervision
Further training at Wardha
Led relief work when Odisha was ravaged by famine
Worked with American Friend Society project at Barpali, training as a nurse and Gramasevika
Worked with Rama Devi to maintain communal harmony during Rourkela riots
Served in drought-affected areas of Kalahandi
Established Kasturba Gandhi Matru Niketan at Paikmal during the severe drought
Kasturba Gandhi Matru Niketan
When the 1975 drought ravaged Western Odisha, Parbati Giri associated herself with the government's rehabilitation programme, supervising foster homes. After the government closed the relief centers, she decided to serve the remaining homeless children herself.
She established the Kasturba Gandhi Matru Niketan at Paikmal—an abode for destitute, orphans, and widows. She also founded:
- Dr. Santra Bal Niketan at Birasingh Gar, Jujomura block
- Old Age Home at Phuljharan (sponsored by Red Cross Society)
She ran these institutions with government funding, private donations, and her own pension until her death.
Awards & Recognition
National Award
Ministry of Social Welfare, Govt. of India (1984)
Honorary Doctorate
Sambalpur University, conferred by Governor C. Rangarajan (1988)
Sarala Puraskar
For dedicated social service
Mega Lift Irrigation Scheme
Named after Parbati Giri (December 2016)
Memberships & Affiliations
She was a life member of numerous organizations:
- Red Cross Society
- Hind Kustha Nibarini Sangha
- Sambalpur Jail Visitor's Committee
- Sisu Vikas Yojana
- Swadhinata Sangrami Committee
- Nari Seva Sangha, Sambalpur
- Ayurvedic College, Narasinghanath
- All India Freedom Fighters Association
Legacy
Parbati Giri passed away on 17 August 1995 after a prolonged illness. She remained unmarried and had no family of her own, but the institutions she built and the destitute, widows, and children she nurtured became her eternal family.
"Parbati Giri was not only a great freedom fighter but also a great social worker who dedicated her entire life to the cause of the nation as well as for the service of the destitute. It is for this she has been rightly called by Shree Biju Pattanaik as 'The Mother Teresa of Odisha.'"
She followed the footsteps of Gandhi and imbibed the Gandhian spirit of devotion to constructive work. The idealism she cherished kept her name alive even long after her death—a true "Banhi Kanya" (daughter of fire) whose flame of service continues to inspire generations.