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.

7 Latest Registered GI Products of Odisha India #OdishaGI

Truly proud to share that 7 Odisha products have been registered as Geographical Indications (GIs) 

Some other GIs registered today belong to states like- Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir & West Bengal and their latest registered GI products such as - Arunachal Pradesh Wancho Wooden Craft etc, Kachchhi Desi Kharek, Ramban Anardana & Kalonunia Rice etc. respectively.

All these are now GIs- "Invaluable Treasures of Incredible India".

GIs are always a matter of great pride and prestige for our nation.

As a grassroots GI worker, proud to have initially suggested some of the brand-new registered Odisha GIs for filing.

Had mentioned some GI names in my talk during a panel discussion held at Bhubaneswar on Makar Sankranti, January 14, Rasagola Mahotsav 2019, organised by Tarang Music and Odisha Television (OTV) group-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TysPkOx3Thc

Watch from 49:05-50:05 and I have shared the names of some potential Odisha GI products including-

Padma Shri Agricultural Scientist - Kamala Pujari

Kamala Pujari is a strong tribal woman from Koraput district. This activist and scientist has done a great service to society by preserving hundreds of local varieties of paddy and promoting organic farming. This year, she was awarded India's fourth highest civilian award "Padma Shri".

Rice And Odisha Connection

The name 'Orissa' is derived from 'Rice'.

Rice is a cereal grain that is the seed of the grass species Oryza sativa (Asian rice) or Oryza glaberrima (African rice). 

The previous name of Odisha was Orissa. It was named so owing to its rich rice varieties.

The term 'Orua' prevalent in Orissa since early times seems to be the same as the Greek 'Oruza' meaning rice, and the Oxford Dictionary states the 'Oroza' is a loan word in Greek from some oriental source. The 'Oretes' (Greek) or the 'Or'/'Odra' (Sanskrit) people may, therefore, mean either the Rice-eating; or the 'Rice growing' people.