Tulasi Munda Biography: Life and Accomplishments
Tulasi Munda was a social activist and educator from the state of Odisha, India. She was born on July 15, 1947, in Keonjhar, one of the most backward regions of Odisha. She is fondly remembered as “Tulasi Apa,” meaning “Sister Tulasi” in Odia, for her contribution to spreading literacy among the impoverished adivasi peoples of Odisha.
Munda started an informal school in 1964 in Odisha’s iron ore mining belt, which later became the Bani Mandir Tribal School. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 2001 by the Government of India for her contribution to education and her work with tribal communities. Munda was a prominent figure in the Indian tribal rights movement and worked tirelessly for the welfare of tribal people throughout her life.
Tulasi Munda’s life and work continue to inspire many people, especially those who are working towards the education and empowerment of tribal communities. Her legacy lives on through the numerous awards and honors she has received, as well as through the many educational institutions she helped establish.
Early Life
Tulasi Munda was born on July 15, 1947, in Kainshi, Keonjhar, present-day Odisha, India. She was born into a Munda ethnic group of adivasis, the collective term in mainland South Asia for indigenous peoples. Her family lived in a remote and impoverished region in Orissa.
During her childhood days, most of the parents belonging to her community hesitated to give education to daughters. Tulasi Munda was no exception. She yearned to study, but it was a futile desire. There was no school in their village, Painsi. In any case, nobody in the area educated their girls.
She was about 12 years old when she went to live with her sister in Serenda, 65 km away. She earned Rs.2 a week by cutting stones, sifting iron from the waste. She started to work in the fields and forests, while also helping her sister with housework.
Despite all the challenges, Tulasi Munda was determined to learn. She taught herself to read and write, using the Odia alphabet. She also learned about the culture and traditions of her community from her grandmother.
Educational Journey
Tulasi Munda was born on July 15, 1947, in Kainshi, Keonjhar, Odisha. Despite coming from one of the backward regions of Odisha, Tulasi Munda was determined to study and educate herself. However, her desire to study was futile due to the lack of educational facilities in her village.
She started her educational journey by attending a local school in her village. She then moved to a boarding school in Rairangpur, where she completed her schooling. After completing her schooling, she moved to Cuttack to pursue her higher education.
Tulasi Munda’s educational journey was not easy. She faced many challenges, including financial difficulties and societal pressure. However, she persevered and completed her graduation from Ravenshaw College in Cuttack.
After completing her graduation, Tulasi Munda started working as a teacher in a local school. She also started teaching children in her village who did not have access to education. She believed that education was the key to empowerment and worked tirelessly to spread literacy among the impoverished adivasi peoples of Odisha.
Tulasi Munda’s dedication and hard work paid off, and she was awarded the Padma Shri in 2001 by the Government of India for her contribution to spreading literacy among the impoverished adivasi peoples of Odisha. She continues to inspire and empower people through education and social activism.