The Devis

Aaruna mohanty, Dance Guru

When Aruna Mohanty dances, time stops. One of the leading Odissi exponents and choreographers the state has produced, Aruna is known for her artistic finesse and boundless versatilit. She has choreographed several prestigious na-tional and international events, often using her art to shed light on social issues such as the status of women in society. Cur-rently secretary and creative director of the Orissa Dance Academy, she has conducted research on dance and has been a visiting scholar at several universities in the United States of America.

Nalini Kandi, Conservationist

Having lived all her life in the climate-vulnerable estuarine landscape of the Devi river, Nalini Kandi has been witness to the wrath of nature. During the 1990 Super Cyclone when her village was almost submerged, she came to understand the power of mangroves as a living natural defence against climate disasters. Today, under the Women for Mangroves movement, she has become a key grassroots leader, helping 145 women from diferent gram panchayats plant 65,000 mangroves with good survival rates.

Sumona Karjee mishra,

A personal medical emergency resulted in a technological innovation that bridges a critical gap in healthcare delivery. Founder and managing director of Prantae Solutions, Su-mona Karjee Mishra’s biotech startup focuses on affordable, scalable and accessible dia-nostic technologies. It was after sufering from preeclampsia, a high-risk pregnancy complica-tion, that Sumona was driven by the desire to address the gap of early diagnosis. Under her leadership over the last 11 years, her company has acquired nine healthcare patents.

Sujata priyambada choudhury, Actor

The lead actor of the well-known theatre organisation Natya Chetana, Sujata Priyambada Choudhury is known for using her performances as a powerful instrument to ef-fect transformation on the ground. With an illustrious career spanning over three decades, she has so far performed in 34 plays across India and else-where, and directed 18 major productions. Suja-ta has also undertaken strenuous cycle expedi-tions to present plays to generate awareness. Through Natkhat-Natya Chetana, she has also coached several chil-dren in theatre arts.

Paramita Satpathy, Author

Civil servant and storyteller, Paramita Satpathy is a sin-gular voice of Indian literature. Author of over 25 books of story collections, novels, novellacollections and books of poems, she has been a lifelong inves-tigator of the human condition. Her work as a writer has been a constant struggle for self realisation while her career in the Indian Revenue Service has grounded her in the details of governance. With writing inscribed in her DNA, it is no wonder she is a proud daughter of Odisha.

Laxmi Meher, Pattachitra Artist

In a world where working with one’s hands is considered a lesser art, Laxmi Meher has elevated Pattachitra painting with her devotion and diligence. Adept in painting on tussar, she infuses life into the rich fabric with her intricate work. During the last three decades, she has trained several artists in the ancient tradition, recording myths, folk-lore and history. Given a Master Craftsman National Award by then President Pratibha Patil, Laxmi’s art is widely displayed at several exhibitions and high-profle public institutions

Jayanti Behera, Para Athlete

If battling obstacles had a name, it would be Jayanti Behera. Jayanti had a routine childhood until an incident changed her life forever. She was just a toddler when she accidentally fell near a fire pit and suffer severe burns on her left elbow, leaving her with non-functional fngers. Thanks to an eagle eyed coach, Bishnu Prasad Mishra, who spotted her potential as well as her own grit and determination, she is now one of the leading para-sprinters in the state and nation, a feat that has won her the title of Sakhigopal Express.

Debasmita Pankaj alone, Molecular Scientist

Focused on an inquiry into the molecular basis of human diseases, Debasmita Pankaj Alone’s lab in NISER, Bhubaneswar, has been collaborating with renowned scientists to advance the understanding of aging disor-ders, while also contributing to cancer biology. Debasmita has also been instrumental in transforming the institute into a hub for science engagement. As the regional coordinator of the Department of Atomic Energy’s Vigyan Pratibha for Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, she has also led innovative teacher training programmes.

Shyni S, Civil Servant

A civil servant with a no nonsense at-titude, Shyni S is a 2001-batch senior IPS offic, currently the Additional Director General of Police for the Crime Against Women and Children wing in Odisha. Born and brought up in Alappuzha, Kerala, she has served as SP of Deogarh, Sundargarh, Balangir and Jharsuguda districts in the initial years of her career, handling left-wing extremism with courage under fre. She also drafted the Odisha government’s ‘Policy for Women and Girls’ as a consultant to the United Nations Population Fund.

Nina Singh, Pearl Culture Specialist

Few women have a second innings as success-ful as their first. Formerly with the OdishaAd-ministrative Service, Nina Singh is now a bio-entre-preneur in her avatar as a freshwater pearl culture specialist. Based in Balasore, Nina ventured into pearl farming in 2014, at a time when the concept was quite foreign. Starting from her backyard with an initial investment of Rs 2 lakh, she adopted a zero-waste framework in which she paired pearl culture with carp fsh breeding. She now owns six sprawling ponds and has trained hundreds in pearl farming.