Chhattisgarh Culture Department

Mata Bahadur Kalarin Award

The historic workplace of Mata Bahadur Kalarin is the village of Sorar (Sarhargarh), Tehsil Gurur, District Balod, Chhattisgarh. In ancient times, Sorar was known as Sarhargarh. In the 14th century, there lived a woman named Kalavati, belonging to the Kalar Vaishya community. She had a keen interest and knowledge of forest herbs, roots, and fermented beverages. In her youth, she dutifully served the sick, helpless, and wounded with herbal medicines. One evening, a king, wounded by a falcon during hunting, followed the light of a burning lamp to reach Kalavati's home, where she treated him. The king, captivated by her beauty and youth, fathered a son with her. However, after his recovery, he returned to his kingdom, forgetting Kalavati.

As the son, Chhachan, grew older, he sought information about his father. Unable to fully answer his questions, Mata Bahadur Kalarin left him with limited knowledge. Driven by a sense of duty to uphold his mother's honor, Chhachan captured 147 royal maidens. Mata Bahadur Kalarin advised him to marry one of the maidens and release the rest, but he refused. Deeply distressed by her son's actions and to uphold the dignity of women, Mata Bahadur Kalarin sacrificed him by pushing him into a well on the day of Holi, freeing the captive maidens and restoring respect for womanhood. Through this act, Kalavati came to be known as Mata Bahadur Kalarin. Today, the descendants of Chhachan (Jatayu) belong to the Kalar community.

In the Kalar community, the "Mata Bahadur Kalarin Award" has been established to honor outstanding contributions in the fields of education, culture, and social welfare.