Kalpana Soren was an Indian social activist and tribal leader who dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of tribal communities in Jharkhand, India. She was born on July 2, 1972, in the tribal village of Nagri in Ranchi district, Jharkhand. Her parents were farmers who belonged to the Munda tribe, one of the indigenous communities of Jharkhand.

Kalpana Soren grew up in a rural environment, where she witnessed first-hand the struggles faced by tribal communities. She was determined to make a difference in the lives of her people and decided to become a social activist. She received her education in Ranchi and later obtained a Master’s degree in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai.

Kalpana Soren began her career as a social worker in 1995, when she joined the Jharkhand Jungle Bachao Andolan (JJBA), a movement that was working to protect the forests and the rights of the tribal people who lived in them. She soon became a prominent member of the movement and worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the issues faced by the tribal communities.

One of Kalpana Soren’s major contributions was her work to promote the use of traditional tribal medicine. She believed that traditional medicine was an integral part of the tribal culture and needed to be preserved. She set up a traditional medicine center in her village and trained local women in the use of traditional medicinal plants. This initiative was a great success and helped to promote the use of traditional medicine in other parts of Jharkhand.

Kalpana Soren was also a strong advocate for women’s rights. She worked to empower women in the tribal communities by providing them with education and training. She was instrumental in setting up several self-help groups for women and helped them to start small businesses.

In recognition of her work, Kalpana Soren received several awards and honors, including the prestigious Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Outstanding Contribution in the field of Constructive Work, in 2009. She was also awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar, the highest civilian award for women in India, in 2013.

Sadly, Kalpana Soren passed away on August 24, 2017, at the age of 45, due to a heart attack. Her death was a great loss to the tribal communities of Jharkhand, who had looked up to her as a leader and a champion of their rights. However, her legacy lives on through the many initiatives and projects that she started, and through the countless lives that she touched with her work.