Julipfz: new

2025-10-30T13:46:16Z

new

New page

{{Short description|Indian social worker}}

{{Infobox person
| name = Kamali Soren
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = 1971
| birth_place = Kotalhati, [[Malda district|Malda District]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| occupation = [[Social work|Social worker]]
| known_for = Social work, preventing [[child marriage]]
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (2021)
}}

'''Kamali Soren''' (born 1971), also known as '''Guru Maa''', is an Indian [[social worker]] from [[Malda district]], [[West Bengal]], recognized for her efforts in social welfare and preventing child marriage.<ref name="Telegraph2021a">{{Cite news|date=28 January 2021|title=Glare on Padma Shri choice|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/glare-on-padma-shri-choice/cid/1804959|access-date=3 April 2025|work=[[The Telegraph India]]}}</ref> She is associated with the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]]-backed All India Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram in [[Gazole (community development block)|Gazole]], Malda.<ref name="Telegraph2021a"/>

==Early life==
Kamali Soren was born in 1971 in Kotalhati village, [[Malda district]], [[West Bengal]].<ref name="Anandabazar2021">{{Cite news|date=28 January 2021|title=Kamali Soren, known as Guru Maa awarded Padma Shri|url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/north-bengal/kamali-soren-known-as-guru-maa-awarded-padma-shri/cid/1263574|access-date=3 April 2025|work=[[Anandabazar Patrika]]|language=bn|archive-date=5 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405042953/https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/north-bengal/kamali-soren-known-as-guru-maa-awarded-padma-shri/cid/1263574|url-status=live}}</ref> After her husband's death, she began living in a tribal camp in Kotalhati and took up social work, focusing on the tribal communities in the region.<ref name="Anandabazar2021"/>

==Career==
Soren has worked with the All India Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram, a tribal organization affiliated with the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]], in [[Gazole (community development block)|Gazole]], Malda.<ref name="Telegraph2021a"/> She has been involved in encouraging tribal people, particularly Christians and Muslims, to return to [[Hinduism]], which has sparked controversy.<ref name="Telegraph2021a"/> In November 2021, Soren intervened to stop a child marriage in Habibpur, Malda, ensuring a 14-year-old girl could continue her education by promising to cover her expenses.<ref name="Telegraph2021b">{{Cite news|date=30 November 2021|title=Padma Shri winner stops child marriage in Malda|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/padma-shri-winner-stops-child-marriage-in-malda/cid/1841180|access-date=3 April 2025|work=[[The Telegraph India]]|archive-date=5 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405042953/https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/padma-shri-winner-stops-child-marriage-in-malda/cid/1841180|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Awards==
In 2021, Soren was awarded the [[Padma Shri]], India's fourth-highest civilian honor, for her contributions to social work.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021|title=Padma Awards 2021|url=https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/Document/pdf/notifications/PadmaAwards/2021.pdf|access-date=3 April 2025|website=Padma Awards, [[Government of India]]}}</ref> Her selection drew criticism from some political groups due to her association with the RSS and allegations of religious conversions.<ref name="Telegraph2021a"/>

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soren, Kamali}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian social workers]]
[[Category:People from Malda district]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in social work]]

{{India-activist-stub}}

Kamali Soren - Revision history

Julipfz: new