Bhubaneswar: A recent trailer for Sony’s Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) spotlighted the inspiring journey of Jayanti Buruda, a trailblazing tribal journalist and activist from Malkangiri, Odisha, who earned a coveted spot among ten contestants chosen nationwide.
Appearing on the show alongside host Amitabh Bachchan, Buruda represented her home state as the sole contestant from Odisha. “Going to KBC is a dream for many,” she noted, detailing the demanding selection steps involving online examinations, personal interviews, and general knowledge assessments before securing a spot among the final 10 contestants selected across India
Although she narrowly missed clearing the final hurdle to make it to the hot seat, Buruda views her experience on KBC as both a major milestone and a stepping stone. “Meeting the legendary Amitabh Bachchan was an unforgettable experience. While I fell just short of reaching the hot seat, standing among the top ten contestants nationwide is an achievement I cherish. I’m keeping my hopes high for another shot in the future,” she said.
While her immediate dream of competing in the main quiz game remains unfulfilled, she views interacting with contestants from across India and sharing her heritage on a national stage as an unforgettable triumph. “As an Adivasi girl from Malkangiri, representing my district on such a large platform makes me feel immensely proud. Tribal society has its own unique stories, culture, and traditions. Through my work and focus on education, I wanted to send a message to the entire nation about taking tribal communities forward,” she said.
HER STORY
Buruda’s path to the national spotlight is rooted in the forests of Serpalli village. The ninth of 11 siblings in a Koya tribal family, her early years were spent helping her mother graze cattle, collect firewood, and gather mahua flowers. Her formal education began in the village’s single school, where two dedicated teachers nurtured her academic talents, driving her to become the only girl in her class of ten to pass the Class 10 board examinations. Driven by a passion for social change despite initial family opposition, she later moved to Malkangiri town, where she gave tuition to children of labourers, volunteered with the Indian Red Cross Society.
Confronted by gender discrimination in public life, she then turned to journalism to build credibility and advocate effectively for marginalised groups.
After interning under filmmaker and journalist Biren Das in Bhubaneswar and working for regional broadcast media, Buruda encountered persistent industry biases that only strengthened her resolve. In 2017, she earned the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI) Fellowship for Women Journalists, which funded her first laptop and galvanised her career. She subsequently founded Jungle Rani in 2023, a dedicated digital media initiative spotlighting underreported stories from Odisha’s tribal heartlands. Her work expanded further through her role as a cluster coordinator with the Bharti Institute of Public Policy at the Indian School of Business, where she champions Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights and advocates for the creation of independent, indigenous media outlets.
Her pioneering social work and journalism earned her widespread recognition, including a spot on the 2024 Forbes India W-Power list featuring 23 self-made women across the country.