Paradip: To commemorate the 7th death anniversary of esteemed educationist, writer, and social worker Dr Satyanand Panda, the Dr. Satyanand Panda Memorial Trust awarded scholarships to four meritorious students from Jagatsinghpur district. The ceremony took place at Janata Government High School, a testament to Dr. Panda’s enduring legacy, which he founded in Jhimani village under Kujang block in Jagatsinghpur district.
Ram Kumar Swain and Manasmita Tarai, who excelled in the matriculation examination at Janata School, were among the recipients. Simran Chaudhary and Ispita Mohapatra, who topped the Plus II examinations at Narayan Birbar Samanta Higher Secondary School, also received scholarships. Notably, Narayan Birbar Samanta Higher Secondary School was established under the guidance of Panda.
The scholarship awardees are excelling in their academic pursuits. Ispita Mohapatra is currently enrolled in the BA programme at Tirtol College, while Simran Chaudhary is studying at Shailbala Women’s College in Cuttack. Ram Kumar Swain is pursuing Plus II at Ulopsis Higher Secondary School in Tirtol, and Manasmita Tarai is studying Plus II at Newton Higher Secondary College in Bhubaneswar. Since its inception, the Dr Satyanand Panda Memorial Trust has empowered 31 meritorious students from the region with scholarships.
Distinguished guests gathered to honour the legacy of Dr Panda. Dr Banaprabha Parida, Principal of Narayan Birbar Samanta Higher Secondary School, Mayadhar Das, former headmaster of Janata Government High School, Janaki Ballabh Mohanty, current headmaster, and Prabhas Tripathy, member of Dr Satyanand Panda Memorial Trust and Dr Panda’s nephew presented trophies and cheques to the students.
Dr Panda’s remarkable achievements were remembered, including being the first person in Odisha to receive a doctorate in anthropology for his research on the fishing community of coastal Odisha.
The occasion was attended by esteemed individuals, including Dr Kishore Chandra Jena, Professor of Commerce, Narayan Birbar Samanta Higher Secondary School, other teacher educators of Janata School, member of the Trust and nephew of Dr Panda, former teacher Nimai Charan Chaudhary, lawyer Ranjan Panda, employees of both the institutes, members of the trust and other dignitaries were present and paid tributes to Panda.
Dr Satyanand Panda’s remarkable life was marked by his unwavering commitment to social service and education. He sacrificed a promising career as a lecturer at Utkal University to establish and guide numerous educational institutions in and around his village. His tireless efforts also extended to supporting displaced farmers in Paradip’s industrial area and collaborating with various organizations.
A prolific writer, Dr Panda edited over 10 magazines, penned articles for several publications, and authored two books. His magnum opus, ‘History of Paradip, a poignant portrayal of the social life journey of coastal communities around the port city, was published posthumously in 2019 by the Trust, ensuring his legacy continues to inspire future generations.
