Annapurna Maharana

Overview

Annapurna Maharana born Cuttack, India November 3, 1917 (d. 2012). Gandhian disciple. Joined Gandhi's march through the state of Orissa, 1937; imprisoned on three occasions during independence movement, 1932, 1942, 1944. Joined Vinoba Bhave's Bhoodan marches, 1951; worked on famine relief efforts, 1966; aided refugees along India-Bangladesh border, 1970-71; undertook Chambal Valley padayatra to get outlaws to surrender, 1972-73; opened high school in Rayagod, Koraput, to educate tribal children, 1977. Nobel Peace Prize nominee, 2005.

Quotations

"[T]here were many women who fought with their families to fight against the British Raj. Men had only one aim or goal to fight for the Britishers but women had to fight the society as well as the Britishers." (Pragyan Das interview, Odisha Review, February 2012; photo World People's blog)