Srimad Baba Balia
An Odisha spiritual teacher whose trust fights superstitions such as witch-hunting and runs a free Sanskrit college; Padma Shri, 2022.
Srimad Baba Balia is the founder and chairperson of the Sishu Ananta Ashram and the Ananta Balia Trust at Arilo, in Jagatsinghpur district, a socio-spiritual organisation that has worked for about 50 years. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2022 in the field of social work, from Odisha [1].
Leaving home at seventeen
Baba Balia was born on 8 April 1954 [2]. After finishing high school he left home at 17 to follow a spiritual life, and has drawn followers across Odisha and beyond [2].
Social reform
His organisations work against superstitions that harm women, such as accusations of witchcraft and the mistreatment of widows, and on participatory democracy, the environment and blood donation [2]. He promotes family life rooted in values [2]. In 1983 he set up a Sanskrit school and college that have given free education to about 5,000 poor students of all castes [2].
The Odisha government named him a Prakruti Bandhu in 1993 and a Prakruti Mitra in 2017 for his environmental work, and he has received awards for his writing in Odia [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2022: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 24 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2022: citation for Srimad Baba Balia — Padma Awards, Government of India. Accessed 24 October 2026.
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