Born in 1954 in Thakurvila village near Assam's border with Meghalaya, Birubala Rabha grew up under adversity, losing her father as a child and assuming domestic responsibilities. Married off at fifteen, she saw at first hand the effects of superstition when her son's illness caused a…

Shri Jadav "Molai" Payeng, born on October 31, 1959, is a green activist who is famous for his excellent reforestation work in Assam, India. Nicknamed as the "Forest Man of India," Payeng devoted his life to raising barren sandbars along the Brahmaputra river into a full-fledged…

Born on April 8, 1962, Shri Sarbeswar Basumatary has emerged as a significant figure in agriculture despite modest beginnings. Raised with limited educational opportunities, he attended school only up to the 5th standard and, by age 13, worked as a ploughman in Dhansrimukh. Dedicating to farming…

The Warli Tribe from Maharashtra is renowned for its distinct Warli art, a traditional form of tribal painting that narrates stories of rural life, nature, and spirituality through simple white patterns on earthen backgrounds. Jivya Soma Mashe, a Padma Awardee, has played a crucial role in…

The Mahadev Koli tribe, primarily residing in Maharashtra, is recognized for its distinct cultural heritage and traditional agricultural practices. Among its notable figures is Rahibai Soma Popere, a Padma Shri awardee known for her efforts in seed conservation and sustainable farming. Often…

Pareshbhai Rathwa was awarded the Padma Shri Award in 2023, which he earned for an exceptional dedication to the preservation and promotion od Pithora art worldwide. This has revitalized a dying practice in keeping with the modern times and this not only honors his contributions but is an…

She is one of the eminent social reformers from the Munda tribe in Odisha. She was born in Kainshi, a village in the Keonjhar district, and devoted her life to the cause of ending illiteracy among the tribals. She endured through the trials of illiteracy, which was nothing but social enslavement on…

Kamala Pujari is a very inspiring agriculturalist from the Paraja tribe of Odisha. She is recognized for her effort to preserve indigenous paddy varieties. Although born in a poor tribal family in Patraput village in Koraput district, her determination has made her a leader at the national level…