Birth Centenary of Parbati Giri | 21 Jan 2026

Source: AIR 

The Prime Minister of India paid homage to freedom fighter Parbati Giri Ji on her birth centenary.

• Early Life: Parbati Giri was born on 19th January 1926 in Samlaipadar, Bargarh district of Odisha, and was inspired by nationalist ideas through Congress activities led by her uncle Ramachandra Giri. 
• Entry Into Freedom Struggle: In 1938, she left home to dedicate herself fully to the freedom struggle through the Indian National Congress, embracing Gandhian ideals such as khadi, self-reliance, and constructive social work as a way of life. 
• Role in National Movements: Actively mobilised villagers during the Individual Satyagraha (1940). 
  • She promoted Khadi Andolan and self-reliance and played a bold role in the Quit India Movement (1942), leading rallies with the tricolour. 
  • Parbati Giri famously challenged British authority in Bargarh Court, leading to two years of imprisonment. 
• Social Reform and Humanitarian Work: Parbati Giri led famine relief operations during the 1951 Odisha famine. 
  • She worked extensively on prison reforms, leprosy eradication, and the welfare of the destitute and marginalized. 
• Legacy and Recognition: She earned the title “The Mother Teresa of Western Odisha” and was also known as “Banhi Kanya” for her fiery patriotism.  
  • She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Sambalpur University in 1988. 
  • Parbati Giri passed away on 17th  August 1995. She is remembered as a powerful symbol of women’s participation in the freedom struggle, seamlessly blending militant nationalism with Gandhian social service.