In a man’s world, women have carved out niches for themselves in almost every field. Earlier, women weren’t recognized the way they’re being today. International Women’s Day is celebrated every year to accredit women across the globe for their contribution in making this world livable. Women are excellent politicians, litterateurs, orators, and revolutionaries. Let’s learn about these extraordinary Odia women who were just as brilliant in their respective fields.
Laxmi Indira Panda(1930-2008)
Born in a camp in Rangoon, Laxmi Panda and her brother saw their parents killed in a British air raid. Following the death of her parents, she was just fourteen when she joined the Indian National Army and was put in the regiment under Captain Lakshmi Sehgal. She was also given the code name ‘Indira’ by Netaji Subash Chandra Bose. She soon excelled in swordsmanship, shooting and espionage. She was the youngest soldier in the regiment. She was recognised as a freedom fighter by the Government of Odisha but the this status was denied to her because she never had been to jail. She fought bravely along side Netaji in Burma. She was awarded the Rashtriya Swatantrik Samman Award in 2008 by Pratibha Patil. She died few days after and was given a state funeral.
Kuntala Kumari Sabat (1901-1938)
An excellent poet and revolutionary, Kuntala Kumari Sabat spent her early days of childhood in Burma. She started her professional life as a physician but her inclination towards literature earned her accolades. She was widely known for her peom ‘Anjali’.She wrote in English, Hindi and Odia. She was a sturdy disciple of Gandhi and believed that freedom was the birth right of every Indian. She also encouraged women to join the Nation Freedom Movement. She fought against superstitions and conservatives. She was known for works like ‘Ucchwas’, ‘Archana,’ and ‘Sphulinga.’
“Senapati Aaji Deichanti Daka, Utha Bharatara Bira Putra Jaka
Apurba Ashayoga Ranagune, Arte Antakasi Para Jane Jane
Bharatara Jete Biragunamani, Chali Asu Senapati Dakasuni”
-Kuntala Kumari Sabat
Sarala Devi (1904-1986)
As a woman, Sarala Devi was the first for many things in Odisha. She was the first Women speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, the first female senate member of Utkal University and the first women director of Cuttack Co-operative bank. She joined The Indian National Congress in 1921 and was attracted to the Gandhian principles of non-violence and defeating patriarchy even if her political inclinations were towards socialism and communism. a A woman of many talents, she also carved out her own space in the literary world that went beyond the language barrier. She has to her credit female centric works like ‘Narira Dabi,’ ‘Rabindra Puja,’ ‘Nari Jagata,’ and ‘Odia Bohu.’
Rama Devi (1899-1985)
Rama Devi was as strong as her contemporaries and contributed extensively in the freedom movement in Odisha. She was one of the women who were in the forefront. She also belonged to a revolutionary family and was the niece of Utkal Gourab Madhusudan Das, the architect of modern Odia nationalism. She was one of the pioneers who take part in the non-cooperation movement and Salt Satyagraha. She joined the Indian National Congress and adorned Khadi. She was also imprisoned in Hazaribagh Jail and after her release she took to protest discrimination against Harijans. She was also imprisoned in Cuttack following her participation in the Quit India Movement. A University situated in Bhubaneswar has been named after her. After the Independence, she fought for the rights of tribals. She was also an active protestor during The Emergency.
Sailabala Das( 1875-1968)
A politician and social activist, Sailabala Das was the first woman from Odisha to go to England for her higher studies. She was adopted by Madhusudan Das following the demise of her parents. She established several branches of All Indian Women’s Conference and was the first woman magistrate of India. She was one of the women who went beyond and argued with Gandhiji about the advantages of industrialization when he asked her to introduce ‘charkha’ to the women of Odisha. The Sailabala Women’s college is named after her as it belonged to Madhusudan Das and she donated it for the purpose of education of women in Odisha. Her contribution to educational reforms for women in Odisha is unforgettable.
