Women are the builders, creators, and nurturers. For ages, they have displayed unbeatable strength, breaking themselves free from the odds life presents, making a mark for themselves and soaring high with pride.
Celebrating International Women’s Day offers us an opportunity to reflect on the incredible achievements of women from Odisha, a land rich in culture, heritage and heroism. Here are the remarkable stories of some of Odisha’s reigning queens, who with their grit and strength continue to inspire the women of the state:
Smt. Droupadi Murmu: Leading with Grace and Strength
Odisha’s pride, India’s shaan– a description that best describes our current President. All the Odias are proud to have given the nation its second female president.
Droupadi Murmu’s journey from a humble village in Mayurbhanj district to becoming the President of India is a shining example of dedication and perseverance. Despite facing adversities, she kept working her way into politics and won hearts with her unwavering dedication and leadership skills.
Her career started as a school teacher, which later took a turn in 1997 when she joined the BJP. During her entire political career, she faced several ups and downs and achieved various milestones.
One of her earlier major achievements was her appointment as the Governor of Jharkhand. Her historic achievement was being choosen as the first woman from Odisha to hold the highest office in the nation. She serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring women leaders everywhere.
Anupriya Lakra: Soaring High Against All Odds
Anupriya Lakra’s story is a testament to the boundless potential that lies within every individual. Hailing from Malkangiri, one of the most remote places in Odisha devoid of access to proper education and facilities, this tribal woman bravely fought against all odds to reach her goals. She pursued her dream of becoming a pilot.
She shattered the bias that was a deterrent in her pathway to success through sheer determination and grit. Her ambition overpowered her engineering pursuit, and she left her studies midway to become a pilot and started to prepare herself for reaching her goals. After clearing her exam, she joined a flying institute in Bhubaneswar in 2012.
Her dreams finally transformed into reality in 2017 when she attained her license and became the first tribal woman from Odisha to become a commercial pilot. Her journey inspires us to dream big and break barriers.
In the year 2019, the young pilot achieved one of her greatest milestones when she piloted the maiden flight from Bhubaneswar to Malkangiri.
Nandita Das: Whose Shine Keeps Getting Brighter
Another shining gem Odisha has ever produced, Nandita Das’s artistic brilliance transcends boundaries, leaving an indelible impact on cinema and society. As a versatile actor and a fearless filmmaker, she has achieved accolades for laudable work in different languages like Odia, English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu etc
Some of her notable works are Fire (1996), Earth (1998), Bawandar (2000), and Amaar Bhuvvan (2002).Her debut in Firaaq earned her two awards for Best Screenplay and Best Film.
In the year 2022, Nandita produced Zwigato featuring Kapil Sharma and Shahana Goswami in the lead roles. The film is shot in Bhubaneswar and captures the beauty and liveliness of the temple city.
Her global recognition, including prestigious awards and honors, reflects her unwavering commitment to artistic excellence and social justice.
Jayanti Behera: Sprinting towards Triumph with Unstoppable Spirit
Despite facing adversity from a young age, Odisha’s Jayanti Behera’s determination to win in life propelled her towards achieving greatness. Hailing from Manitilasahi village, she became a victim of a grave misfortune when she was just a year old. She fell into a burning crick kiln. Even then her spirit kept burning with her never-give-up attitude.
Overcoming physical challenges, she emerged as a formidable paralympic athlete, showcasing her talent on national and international platforms. Her remarkable achievements testify to the power of resilience and the human spirit’s ability to triumph over adversity. In 2018, she won a gold medal in 400 m and silver in 800 m at the 66th Odisha State Athletics Meet held in Cuttack.
Jayanti brought laurels to her home state and achieved milestone in 2021 when she made a hat-trick securing three gold medals at a grand event in Bengaluru. She secured a hat-trick also in 2022 receiving gold in 100m, 200m and 400 m respectively at the 20th National Para Athletics Championship.
Tulasi Munda: Empowering Generations with Education
Tulasi Munda’s lifelong dedication to education and social reform has impacted countless lives in Odisha. As an active educator and social activist, she fought for women’s education and empowerment tirelessly.
In the year 1961, she collaborated with well-known social activists such as Malati Choudhary, Ramadevi Choudhary, and Nirmala Deshpande to advocate the education of women. She also began her school in her home and taught children in her verandah. In her relentless pursuit she helped educate over 20,000 children.
Her tireless advocacy earned her widespread acclaim and recognition. She was honored with Padma Shree in 2001 for her valuable contribution to the field of social work, besides the Odisha Living Legend Award in 2011.
Shyama Jha: Spreading the Power of Health and Sustainability
Shyama Jha’s innovative approach to promoting health and sustainability through the Magic Millet Mission exemplifies the spirit of empowerment and entrepreneurship. By integrating millet into everyday cuisine, she promotes healthy eating without compromising the taste. She also empowers women farmers to be a part of the production process, with about 70% of the workforce consisting of women.
Her goal to promote health and happiness among the people comes in the forms of snacks and food items such as Pasta, Cakes, and cookies made out of millet.
Her entrepreneurial skills are not only serving as an outlet for several underprivileged people to earn but are also promoting health in the best way.
On International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate the indomitable spirit and remarkable achievements of these women from Odisha who continue to inspire and empower us all. Let’s share their stories and inspire others to recognize the undefeated spirit of women in Odisha!
Odia Samaj wishes a very Happy Women’s Day to all the women across the world!
Women are the builders, creators, and nurturers. For ages, they have displayed unbeatable strength, breaking themselves free from the odds life presents, making a mark for themselves and soaring high with pride.
Celebrating International Women’s Day offers us an opportunity to reflect on the incredible achievements of women from Odisha, a land rich in culture, heritage and heroism. Here are the remarkable stories of some of Odisha’s reigning queens, who with their grit and strength continue to inspire the women of the state:
Smt. Droupadi Murmu: Leading with Grace and Strength
Odisha’s pride, India’s shaan– a description that best describes our current President. All the Odias are proud to have given the nation its second female president.
Droupadi Murmu’s journey from a humble village in Mayurbhanj district to becoming the President of India is a shining example of dedication and perseverance. Despite facing adversities, she kept working her way into politics and won hearts with her unwavering dedication and leadership skills.
Her career started as a school teacher, which later took a turn in 1997 when she joined the BJP. During her entire political career, she faced several ups and downs and achieved various milestones.
One of her earlier major achievements was her appointment as the Governor of Jharkhand. Her historic achievement was being choosen as the first woman from Odisha to hold the highest office in the nation. She serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring women leaders everywhere.
Anupriya Lakra: Soaring High Against All Odds
Anupriya Lakra’s story is a testament to the boundless potential that lies within every individual. Hailing from Malkangiri, one of the most remote places in Odisha devoid of access to proper education and facilities, this tribal woman bravely fought against all odds to reach her goals. She pursued her dream of becoming a pilot.
She shattered the bias that was a deterrent in her pathway to success through sheer determination and grit. Her ambition overpowered her engineering pursuit, and she left her studies midway to become a pilot and started to prepare herself for reaching her goals. After clearing her exam, she joined a flying institute in Bhubaneswar in 2012.
Her dreams finally transformed into reality in 2017 when she attained her license and became the first tribal woman from Odisha to become a commercial pilot. Her journey inspires us to dream big and break barriers.
In the year 2019, the young pilot achieved one of her greatest milestones when she piloted the maiden flight from Bhubaneswar to Malkangiri.
Nandita Das: Whose Shine Keeps Getting Brighter
Another shining gem Odisha has ever produced, Nandita Das’s artistic brilliance transcends boundaries, leaving an indelible impact on cinema and society. As a versatile actor and a fearless filmmaker, she has achieved accolades for laudable work in different languages like Odia, English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu etc
Some of her notable works are Fire (1996), Earth (1998), Bawandar (2000), and Amaar Bhuvvan (2002).Her debut in Firaaq earned her two awards for Best Screenplay and Best Film.
In the year 2022, Nandita produced Zwigato featuring Kapil Sharma and Shahana Goswami in the lead roles. The film is shot in Bhubaneswar and captures the beauty and liveliness of the temple city.
Her global recognition, including prestigious awards and honors, reflects her unwavering commitment to artistic excellence and social justice.
Jayanti Behera: Sprinting towards Triumph with Unstoppable Spirit
Despite facing adversity from a young age, Odisha’s Jayanti Behera’s determination to win in life propelled her towards achieving greatness. Hailing from Manitilasahi village, she became a victim of a grave misfortune when she was just a year old. She fell into a burning crick kiln. Even then her spirit kept burning with her never-give-up attitude.
Overcoming physical challenges, she emerged as a formidable paralympic athlete, showcasing her talent on national and international platforms. Her remarkable achievements testify to the power of resilience and the human spirit’s ability to triumph over adversity. In 2018, she won a gold medal in 400 m and silver in 800 m at the 66th Odisha State Athletics Meet held in Cuttack.
Jayanti brought laurels to her home state and achieved milestone in 2021 when she made a hat-trick securing three gold medals at a grand event in Bengaluru. She secured a hat-trick also in 2022 receiving gold in 100m, 200m and 400 m respectively at the 20th National Para Athletics Championship.
Tulasi Munda: Empowering Generations with Education
Tulasi Munda’s lifelong dedication to education and social reform has impacted countless lives in Odisha. As an active educator and social activist, she fought for women’s education and empowerment tirelessly.
In the year 1961, she collaborated with well-known social activists such as Malati Choudhary, Ramadevi Choudhary, and Nirmala Deshpande to advocate the education of women. She also began her school in her home and taught children in her verandah. In her relentless pursuit she helped educate over 20,000 children.
Her tireless advocacy earned her widespread acclaim and recognition. She was honored with Padma Shree in 2001 for her valuable contribution to the field of social work, besides the Odisha Living Legend Award in 2011.
Shyama Jha: Spreading the Power of Health and Sustainability
Shyama Jha’s innovative approach to promoting health and sustainability through the Magic Millet Mission exemplifies the spirit of empowerment and entrepreneurship. By integrating millet into everyday cuisine, she promotes healthy eating without compromising the taste. She also empowers women farmers to be a part of the production process, with about 70% of the workforce consisting of women.
Her goal to promote health and happiness among the people comes in the forms of snacks and food items such as Pasta, Cakes, and cookies made out of millet.
Her entrepreneurial skills are not only serving as an outlet for several underprivileged people to earn but are also promoting health in the best way.
On International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate the indomitable spirit and remarkable achievements of these women from Odisha who continue to inspire and empower us all. Let’s share their stories and inspire others to recognize the undefeated spirit of women in Odisha!
Odia Samaj wishes a very Happy Women’s Day to all the women across the world!
