Bhubaneswar, December 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid rich tributes to freedom fighter, Parbati Giri of Odisha, while addressing the 129th edition of Mann ki Baat and said her inspiring life will continue to guide every generation.

The Prime Minister underlined the importance of never forgetting the contributions of the heroes who won our independence.

“Friends, next month we will celebrate the 77th Republic Day of the country. Whenever such occasions arise, our hearts are filled with gratitude for the freedom fighters and the makers of the Constitution. Our country fought a long struggle for independence. People from every part of the country contributed to the freedom movement but unfortunately, many of the heroes, both men and women of independence did not receive the respect they deserved,” said Modi.

Modi said, “One such freedom fighter is Parbati Giri ji of Odisha. Her birth centenary will be celebrated in January 2026. She participated in the Quit India Movement at the age of 16. Friends, after the independence movement, Parbati Giri ji dedicated her life to social service and tribal welfare. She established several orphanages. Her inspiring life will continue to guide every generation.”

“I pay my tribute to Parbati Giri,” said the Prime Minister.

"We remember freedom fighter Parbati Giri Ji of Odisha, who joined the Quit India Movement at sixteen and later dedicated her life to social service and tribal welfare," said Modi.

Urging the countrymen to pass on the great saga of the heroes, both men and women who brought us independence, to the next generation, the Prime Minister said, “You may recall that when we celebrated 75 years of independence, the government created a special website. A section on it was dedicated to ‘Unsung Heroes.’ Even today, you can visit this website to learn about the great personalities who played a significant role in achieving independence for our country.”

Parbati Giri, also known as Mother Teresa of western Odisha, had dedicated her entire life for the downtrodden.

Born on January 19, 1926, at Samalaipadar (then under undivided Sambalpur district), Parbati had participated in the Quit India movement at the age of 16. She had engaged herself in social service post-independence. She had also set up an orphanage at Paikmal.