Renowned tribal saint and poet Padma Shri Purnamasi Jani has been admitted to the Phulbani District Headquarters Hospital after falling ill.
The 82-year-old visionary, affectionately known as Tadisuru Bai, was shifted from Khajuripada CHC after exhibiting symptoms of anemia and limb swelling. Medical officials confirmed her condition is currently stable.
Born in 1942, Jani is a cultural icon of Kandhamal. Despite having no formal education, she has composed thousands of devotional and folk songs in the Kui language, often reciting them while in a meditative state.
Her spiritual healing through song earned her the Padma Shri in 2021, alongside prestigious honors like the Odisha Sahitya Academy’s Samvardhana.
Her vast following across the state remains in prayer for the swift recovery of the "soul-soothing" healer who has dedicated over 40 years to preserving tribal heritage.