THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 9, 2026

From gathering firewood and mahua flowers with her mother in the forests of Malkangiri to sharing the stage with Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, Jayanti Buruda’s journey is a remarkable story of dreams nurtured against the odds and a voice that has travelled far beyond the forests she grew up in.

Known as the ‘Jungle Rani’ of Malkangiri for her work among tribal communities, Buruda recently found herself in the national spotlight after being selected as one of 10 contestants from across the country for the popular television quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). She was the only contestant from Odisha.

Though she could not clear the final hurdle to occupy the coveted ‘hot seat’, Buruda said simply making it to the KBC stage and representing Malkangiri before a national audience was an experience she would cherish.

 “Namaskar to everyone, and I wish everyone a happy World Adivasi Day. I am very happy to be among the 10 contestants selected from across the country. I am the only contestant from Odisha, and it is a very special moment for me,” Buruda said.

For the tribal woman who had long dreamt of appearing on KBC, the opportunity was the culmination of several attempts to get on the show. While the hot seat remained elusive this time, meeting Bachchan and interacting with contestants from different parts of the country made the journey memorable.

 “I had always dreamed of sitting on the ‘hot seat’. Unfortunately, I could not make it there, but the overall experience was very good. Meeting contestants from other states and learning about their experiences was wonderful. I hope I get another opportunity in the future and can fulfil my dream,” she said.

But Buruda’s KBC appearance is only the latest chapter in an extraordinary journey that began in a remote tribal village in Odisha’s Malkangiri district.

Born into a Koya tribal family, Buruda is the ninth among 11 siblings. Her childhood in Serpalli village was closely intertwined with the forest. She accompanied her mother to collect firewood, grazed cattle and gathered mahua flowers, experiences that would later become an important part of her understanding of the lives of tribal communities.

Education was not an immediate attraction for her. She was eventually enrolled in the only school in the village, where two teachers played a decisive role in changing her outlook towards studies.

The two teachers, who handled all the subjects at the school, encouraged Buruda to take education seriously and helped her discover an interest in academics. Their encouragement became a turning point in her life.

Buruda went on to become the only girl among 10 students in her class to clear the Class 10 examination.

Her educational journey eventually led her to journalism, a field through which she began documenting the lives, struggles and aspirations of tribal communities in Malkangiri. Through journalism and social media, she has highlighted the problems confronting people in remote and underserved areas, particularly tribal women and communities.

Her work has brought her recognition over the years. Her life story has also been featured by Forbes India, while she has received several honours for her contribution to tribal communities and social work.

For Buruda, however, recognition has never meant leaving her roots behind. Her experiences growing up in a tribal household and her close association with forest-dependent communities continue to influence both her work and ambitions.

 “I am proud to represent Malkangiri and its tribal community. Being able to take our identity to a national platform is a matter of pride for me,” she said.

Her appearance on KBC has therefore become more than just a television milestone. It has offered a national platform to a woman whose own life reflects the changing aspirations of tribal India — from a childhood shaped by forests and traditional livelihoods to a career built around journalism, social work and advocacy.

And although the coveted ‘hot seat’ remained just out of reach this time, Buruda is not giving up on the dream.

For the woman who once walked through the forests of Malkangiri with her mother collecting firewood and mahua flowers, the journey to KBC is another milestone in a life defined by education, perseverance and an unwavering determination to give tribal communities a wider voice.