The Western part of Odisha, extending from the Kalahandi District in the south to the Sundergarh District in the North West, which comprised of the present districts of Balangir, Bargarh, Boudh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Sundargarh and Athmallik sdivision of Angul District has a great contribution to the Indian struggle for Independence. In Western Odisha women played a vital role in the freedom movement. The notable women leaders who stand in the fore front during the national movement were Jambobati Devi (wife of famous freedom fighter Bhagirathi Pattanaik), Prabhabati Devi (daughter of Dhanpati Dash of Bargarh), Parvati Giri (The Mother Teresa of Western Odisha), Gurubari Meher (a valiant women freedom fighter of Sonepur), Saraswati Mirdha, Rukmini devi Lath (the wife of Sri Prahallad Rai Lath of Sambalpur), Gandharvi Devi (daughter-in-law of Fakira Behera), Iia Meher (the wife of Kunja Bihari of Tukurla), Shreeyabati Devi (wife of senior freedom fighter Ghanashyam Panigrahi of Manpur, Bhaden) and many more.