Padma Shri Kamala Pujari Maa

 When I first met her, I was struck by her simplicity and dazzling smile.

It was 27 May 2017 & the event was the YES We Can Change Agents Awards Function- "Be The Change"-2- "Lesser Known Change Agents of Odisha."

Earlier, Sri Sisir Sahoo Sahoo had spoken highly of "Kamala Maa." She was a Change Agent in Be The Change-1. Her information was published in the in the fist book of change-agents by the Yes We Can team.

Sri Sahoo excitedly mentioned that he had invited her as one of the chief guests of the #YesWeCan programme- Be The Change-2nd edition.

She came dressed in her typical style & armed with her captivating smile. A true daughter of the soil, she was firmly grounded in her values and roots with no airs or attitude.



As the #SabatSisters - Amrita Sabat & I were in the Change Agents list too, it was our privilege to receive Yes We Can's Be The Change Award from the hands of the golden lady.
The images tell the story.

The second time, I met her at another Team Yes We Can meeting.
There, I found Kamala Maa shedding tears and expressing her plight. She was inconsolable about the rice grains she had painstakingly collected all her life, which were no longer hers as they had been taken away.

Also, she complained about her home not being in a good condition. I don't have any images of that meeting.


Some days later, we got the great news she had been chosen for the Padma Shri Award. We were overjoyed when she earned her well-deserved Award.

More information here-
Padma Shri Agricultural Scientist Kamala Pujari-
https://www.anitaexplorer.com/2019/05/padma-shri-agricultural-scientist.html

Got an opportunity to speak with Kamala Maa telephonically in December 2023 regarding the the Koraput Kalajeera Rice #OdishaGI thanks to Sri Kshetramohan Behera. Based on Kamala Maa's words and other senior farmers' feedback, we requested for inclusion and correct representation of the undivided Koraput district & some other districts, etc in the #KoraputKalajeeraRice application. #

We had more plans with this #vocalforlocal champion that will, unfortunately, be unable to include her
https://x.com/anitaexplorer/status/1561719285650980864

After Mahaprabhu's Ratha Jatra 2024 completion (19 July 2024), Kamala Maa breathed her last on 20 July 2024.

The loss of Padma Shri Agricultural Scientist Kamala Maa is our state's & nation's loss.
Om Shanti.🙏
Jaya Shree Jagannatha Mahaprabhu🙏🎊