International Women’s Day: 12 Power Women From Odisha & Their Tales

Bhubaneswar: They shuffled through multiple roles, faced adversities but always with a steely resolve. And, their contributions led to Odisha’s growth and development story. They are the power women of Odisha, who brought glory, freedom and progress to Odisha. On Women’s Day, here’s a list of Odia women who are not just an inspiration for the state but a motivation for people across the globe.  From social reformers and freedom fighters to pioneers in literature, politics, and sports, these women have been a beacon of hope in the Odia society. Here’s who they are:

Tulasi Munda: The tribal crusader

Tulasi Munda from tribal region of Keonjhar was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2001 for her efforts towards eradicating illiteracy among tribal children. She lacked formal education herself, but established several schools in mining areas and provided free education to thousands.

Rama Devi: The ‘Mother of the Masses’

Rama Devi Choudhury was a prominent freedom fighter and social reformer. She known as the “Mother of the Masses.” She led the Quit India Movement in Odisha. She also championed women’s rights and established the Seva Ghara in Cuttack to empower women through education and vocational training.

📍Rama Devi Choudhury
(Born: 3rd December, 1899)

🔹Remembering the great freedom fighter & social reformer on her birth anniversary.

🔹She was imprisoned on 8th November, 1930 for leading the Salt Satyagraha at Srijanga, Balasore & Kujanga, Jagatsinghpur.#AmritMahotsav pic.twitter.com/UFDL4JLdy3

— PIB in Telangana 🇮🇳 (@PIBHyderabad) December 3, 2022

Sarala Devi: A Freedom Fighter

Sarala Devi was the first Odia woman to join the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1921. She defied societal norms to fight for India’s freedom. She was also a prolific writer. She was also the first woman elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly in 1936.

Freedom Fighter Sarala Devi From Present Day Odisha Participated In Salt Satyagrah and Quit India Movement #AzaadiKiNishaniyan pic.twitter.com/0WFSgy0QHw

— indianhistorypics (@IndiaHistorypic) August 11, 2018

Annapurna Maharana: A social activist

Annapurna Maharana was a devoted social activist. She worked tirelessly for the upliftment of Odisha’s tribal communities. Following in the footsteps of her mother, Rama Devi, she opened a school for tribal children.

Shailabala Das: Pioneering women’s education

Shailabala Das donated her residence to establish the first women’s college in the state, now known as Shailabala Women’s College in Cuttack. She laid the foundation for educated and independent Odia women.

Shailabala Women’s College in Cuttack, #Odisha, named after prominent social worker #ShailabalaDas, due to whose tireless efforts the college started, is the #first women’s college in the state and one of the #oldest in the country. Tributes to the brave daughter of the state! pic.twitter.com/xfBowVV138

— PIB in Odisha (@PIBBhubaneswar) March 25, 2022

Pratibha Ray: The literary icon

Pratibha Ray is a renowned Odia writer. She was the first Odia woman to receive the prestigious Jnanpith Award. Her novels and short stories explore complex social issues, women’s rights, and human relationships.

January 21 marks the birth anniversary of Pratibha Ray (born on January 21, 1944), a distinguished academic and writer renowned for her contributions to Odia-language novels and stories. pic.twitter.com/wXe70zm7tb

— Parliament Library of India (@parliament_lib) January 21, 2025

Dutee Chand: The ace sprinter

Dutee Chand from Jajpur is a champion sprinter who has brought laurels to the state and the country. At the 2019 World Universiade in Naples, she became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal in the 100-meter race at a global competition. Chand was also only the fifth Indian to participate in the women’s 100 metres at the Olympics. She had qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Parbati Giri: The ‘Mother Teresa’ of Western Odisha

Parbati Giri is known as the ‘Mother Teresa of Western Odisha.’ She was a dedicated freedom fighter and social worker. She had joined the Quit India Movement at the age of 16. She was imprisoned for her activism.

Watch the inspiring story of Parbati Giri👇

A fearless freedom fighter, she was inspired by Gandhiji to lead rallies during the freedom movement and promote the Khadi movement. Despite being imprisoned, she never gave up her fight for the nation’s independence!#AmritMahotsav… pic.twitter.com/c6kz4yoKgd

— Amrit Mahotsav (@AmritMahotsav) March 8, 2025

Tribhuvana Mahadevi I: The Warrior Queen

Tribhuvana Mahadevi I was a formidable ruler of the Bhauma-Kara dynasty during the 9th century. She effectively quelled internal rebellions and defended her kingdom after her husband’s death. She saved her kingdom from external threats.

Nandini Satpathy: The sharp politician

Nandini Satpathy was the first woman Chief Minister of Odisha. She was also instrumental in encouraging women’s participation in politics and implemented various welfare schemes for women and children in the state.

This photo of Legendary Smt. Nandini Satpathy is from year 1972 . She as Minister attached to PM @PMOIndia was at the core of Wildlife Protection Act of India. Our country is the first in the world to have passed such an Act … Team SNSMT pic.twitter.com/k5Ccq6hvFp

— SNSMT (@SNSMT) March 4, 2025

Parbati Ghose: The filmmaker

Parbati Ghose (born Chapala Nayak was the first female filmmaker from Odisha. Ghose began her career as a child voice actor on All India Radio before transitioning to on-screen film roles. She made her film debut as child artist of character Nila Madhav in 1949 film, Shri Jagannath. Her big break came in the 1953 film Amari Gaan Jhua (Our Village Girl), where she was cast as the female lead actress. Parbati Ghose and her husband produced, co-directed and acted in Lakshmi (1962), Kaa (1965), Stree (1968). These three films won them three national film awards for their work as directors and producers.

Draupadi Murmu: First Tribal President of India

Droupadi Murmu, a 64-year-old tribal leader from Odisha, is India’s first tribal and second woman President.
Murmu was born on June 20, 1958, in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj. Born in the Santhal community, the 64-year-old struggled with poverty in her childhood in one of the most remote and underdeveloped districts of the country. In 2015, she was appointed the Governor of Jharkhand, becoming the first-ever tribal leader at the post.