Odisha Review
Eminent Freedom Fighter
Parbati Giri
Independence is the birthright of every individual.
Every human being craves for freedom-he/she
may be a tribal living in a remote village encircled
by mountains, streams, rivers and dense forest or
an intellectual from a metropolitan area.
(Courtesy- Sunday Post).
Women bravely faced the
baton of the police and even went
behind bars.While reiterating the
thrilling enactment of brave fighters
who fought and laid down their
valuable lives in the larger interest
of people and MOTHER INDIA
to make India free from tyrant and
brutal British ruler, wholeheartedly
we pay our salute to their eternal
soul and shower handful solace for
their left out generations. Really we
all are indebted to them. Endangering the lives to
make India free, Odisha’s freedom fighters played
a vital role. Even, the lady freedom fighters at their
young age dedicated their sober and lofty life
following the footprint of noble men. They led
from the front in the freedom struggle and their
social contributions after independence in the
sphere of national reconstruction is indeed
massive. In the context of brave women freedom
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Kunja Bihari Sahu
fighters, Mahatma Gandhi once said that “Man
can never be a woman’s equal in the spirit of
selfless service with which nature has endowed
her”.
When freedom engulfed entire
Odisha at the wake-up call of
Mahatma Gandhi and
Gopabandhu Das, many women
leaders spearheaded movements
in central and coastal Odisha. In
the beginning of 20th century,
Odisha saw the evolution of
women leaders like Sarala Devi,
Rama Devi, Malati Devi
Choudhuri, Janhabi Devi,
Hironmayi Devi, Godabari Devi,
Radhamani Devi and Parbati Devi
who not only created awareness
on women’s education, child marriage, the
purdah system and widow marriage but also
focused on spreading the message of human
freedom, national unity and a republican form of
governance. (courtesy- Sunday Post).
Thus, our noble State Odisha feels
honoured and proud for having given birth a
number of notable lady freedom fighters and
nationalists in liberating India.
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Of the uprising lady freedom fighters and
social activists in Odisha, Parbati Giri was an
exemplary. She had taken birth in Samalaipadar,
a small and insignificant village of Bijepur block
in Bargarh district (erstwhile Sambalpur district)
on 19.01.1926. Her father’s name was
Dhananjaya Giri and mother’s name was Shrimati.
Out of four children, Parbati Giri was 1st child.
She had studied up to Class-III. Her schooling
career was taken place in Lower Primary School
at Samalaipadar. Though she had desire for higher
study, she could not proceed ahead in the
academic career. During that time, freedom
fighters Ram Puri, Bhagirathi Pattnaik and his wife
Jambobati Pattanaik had been paying visit to
Samalaipadar to propagate the revolutionary
activities. Apart from them, Nabakrushna
Choudhury, Malati Devi Choudhury, Ghanashyam
Panigrahi, Laxmi Narayan Mishra, Fakira Behera,
Prankrushna Padihari, Shib Naryana Padhi and
others put their steps at Panimora and
Samalaipadar to patronize the freedom struggle.
The young child Parbati set up her mind for
betterment and upliftment of people. Alike
morning shows the day, her patriotic attitude had
come to light. Her uncle Ramachandra Giri was
an associate of Laxmi Narayan Mishra, Durga
Prasad Guru, Bhagirathi Pattanayak and his wife
Jambobati Pattanayak. When these bonafide
freedom fighters rushed to Samalaipadar to have
a discussion on the aim and objective of the
revolution and detailed plan programme of Indian
National Congress, Ramachandra Giri witnessed
the discussion. Their eloquent touchy speech
focused and impressed on Parbati Giri. Though
she was a young school going girl, deeply
influenced and interested to be follower of these
freedom fighters instantly. So, she determined
herself to leave the home and began travelling from
village to village campaigning for the Congress.
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Odisha Review
Senior Congress Leader requested her father to
permit Parbati to work for them selflessly and
benevolently.
Malati Devi Choudhury, not only an
Odishan but also an Indian civil rights and freedom
activists as well as noted Gandhian motivated
Parbati and Pravabati Devi (another child widow)
and weared them Khadi on 18.11.1937. That day
gave much enthusiasm and keen attachment for
sharing contribution of works towards loving
motherland. When Parbati was 12 years old, she
got the chance for organisational work for
Congress being allowed by her father and went
to Bari Ashram stationed at Jajpur on foot
accompanied by Pravabati Devi, a child widow
of Bargarh. The family members took much pain
to convince two young girls to remain aloof from
this hazardous task. But all out efforts was in vain.
Malati Devi gave responsibility to Bhagirathi and
Jambobati to leave Parbati and Pravabati at Bari
Ashram. The journey was so hardy and painful
due to lack of well communication system. That
day was 14th January, 1938. On the way to Bari
Ashram, they made halt at Arigaon in the home
of Reba Ray. Next day, they started their
adequate and purposeful journey to the Ashram
and reached in their destination. They met
Gopabandhu Choudhury and Rama Devi there.
At that time, said Asharam was run by Rama Devi.
An unique freedom fighter Rama Devi once told
that the country is greater than an individual. She
had feeling that social awakening is based on only
one lady’s awareness. Their role is vital and
important in bringing back social independence.
So she went on reading books and took part in
spinning and cleaning of Harijan colony. After two
year’s stay at Bari Ashram, she took the
leadership of volunteers in Congress session held
at Sakhigopal and earned a good name.
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Odisha Review
At those days the Ashrams were
established for giving on high moral value and
teaching and named as “Sangrami Sibira” and
“Ahimsa Tirtha”. The environment of these
Ashram highly touched the heart of Parbati. She
took the privilege of learning handicraft and self
help and extended her high quality of love and
affection to all. Being inspired and
commemorating the words of Mahatma Gandhi
“Kuti Khao, Kati Pindh”, Parbati Giri travelled
to Bargarh, Ghens, Panimora, Barpali,
Sarandapali, Padampur and Sambalpur and
nearby villages. She met, talked to, interacted with
and got feedback from all kinds of people –men,
women, country folk and trained as well as
persuaded all people on spinning and wearing
Khadi. This was enlightened to the Khadi
Andolona called by Mahatma Gandhi. Because
Gandhiji wished to propagate ad popularise the
cause of Khadi which was the ethical economic
and political uniform for freedom movement.
Under the guidance and leadership of
Gandhiji, the “Quit India Movement” was held
during 1942 to make India free from the bondage
of British Ruler. Inspired by Gandhiji, Parbati Giri
made herself political activist. Most of the
prominent freedom fighters were arrested for
breaking the law to make the revolution high. She
was arrested by the police and was released being
a minor. On the other hand, her relatives like
Ramachandra Puri, Ujjal Puri, Tulasi Puri,
Mangala Puri, Dwitia Giri were arrested by the
police. In this incident, Parbati did not feel
harassed and courageously moved to Bargarh
holding the National Flag- Triranga. Once she and
some other boys rushed to courtroom of Bargarh
and raised anti-government slogan loudly. Who
did not vacate the court were presented two
bangles to wear. This was great insult to the
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lawyers. Similarly, accompanied by three boys
entered to the room of Magistrate and occupied
the chair of Magistrate Sri Bivek Mukherjee
forcefully in his absence in a dramatic manner.
Of the other boys, one played the role of Peon
and another acted as advocate. When SDO
entered the room, Parbati ordered the peon to
bring SDO and bound in a rope. The policemen
aggrieved with such unpleasant and unwanted
behaviour of Parbati Giri and tried to get down
her from the chair. Later on they arrested her
immediately. She was imprisoned for two years
at Sambalpur jail. She was released subsequently.
By this her revolutionary attitude was aggravated
for liberation of her motherland. Here, the patriotic
immortal line of Bandir Atmakatha written by
Utkalmani Gopabandhu Dash can be memorized-
“Pachhaghuncha Nahin Birara Jatake, Na
mare se kebe paran atanke”.
After India got independence, Parbati
Giri was associated with the betterment of mother
soil and all kinds of people whoever fan and foe
may be. During famine period in Odisha, especially
at Padampur, Paikmal, Khariar and Nuapada
people were deprived of getting a bowl of food.
Parbati Giri could not but see such unbearable
situation of the distressed people. Her heart was
thrilled with kindness. Feeling compassionate
towards them, she run from village to village and
distributed relief. Besides, she rescued 49 Nos.
of orphan and destitute and sheltered at
Satyabhamapur Kasturba centre. It undoubtedly
leads to the kindheartedness of Parbati Giri at a
glance and made an example for others for all
times to come.
Parbati Giri initiated an orphanage named
‘Kasturba Gandhi Mahila Niketan’ at the
foothill of Shri Shri Nrusinghanath temple of
Paikmal Block to shelter the orphan and women
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during 1976 and spent her life in providing good
moral values to children. Similarly, she established
another home named Dr. Isac Santra Bal Niketan
at Phuljaran under Jujomara Block of Sambalpur
District. Both the Mahila Niketans attract many
people from far and wide to justify the activities
executed by Parbati Giri.
Parbati Giri worked for jail improvement
and leprosy eradication. She had belief on the
moral line-Karma mohar nija guru. She
employed herself for the sake of poor, destitute
and orphans. In the thick dark of despair she
was a candle of hope. For the benevolent attitude
towards poor, destitute people, occupying unique
place as well as playing significant role in Indian
freedom struggle, she was nicknamed as “The
Mother Teresa of Western Odisha”. She was
also known as “Banhi Kanya” for not caring
blame, insult, oppression, highhandedness,
colonial rule of others as well as for her violent
nationalistic sentiments and free expression. She
had raised loud voice against the exploitation,
illegal activities. She was hard like ore in tongue
but soft like flower by heart. Dr. Harekrushna
Mahtab had offered MLA post and Biju Pattnaik
had offered MP post for Rajya Sabha to which,
Parbati Giri humbly denied to accept such political
post.
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Odisha Review
According to Mahatma Gandhi- the
Father of Nation that “woman is immeasurably
superior than man in moral mental power. A
woman is more self sacrificing, greater power of
endurance, greater courage and as a whole a
greater intuition. And friendly a woman makes
more effective appear to the heart.” This is a fact
and was reflected on Parbati Giri as an woman.
Selflessly dedicating valuable life, Parbati
had produced a number of good people alike her.
She breathed her last on 17.08.1995 after
suffering from Cancer and Jaundice. She remained
immortal for all people to come. Not only the soil
of Samalaipadar is remembering but also all human
being are catering their love and affection to Parbati
Giri from core of the heart. When the National
Flag of Independence flutters in celebration and
triumph, our thought turn to the bravery attitude
of Late Parbati Giri and national anthem stir in
our mind. However, this Independence Day let’s
salute those women whose brave deeds made
India proud.
Kunja Bihari Sahu, Project Director, Watersheds,
Bargarh 768028., Email: kunjasahu63@gmail.com.
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