Paradip: Four meritorious students from economically backward families were awarded scholarships by Dr Satyananda Panda Memorial Trust to mark the fifth death anniversary of Dr Panda, at Janata Nodal School which was established by him in his native village Jhimani under Kujang block of Jagatsighpur district.
Tapan Samal, Shilpa Bhoi — who have completed matriculation from Janata Nodal School — Sasmita Rout and Sasmita Tarai of Naryan Birabara Samant College in Jhimani received the scholarships in honour of Dr Panda, who was a noted educationist, social worker and writer from Jagatsinghpur district.
Dr Banaprabha Parida, Principal of Narayan Birabar Samanta College, lecturer Kishore Jena, Janata Nodal School teacher Sagarika Dhal and former headmistress Kalpana Sutar presented the students with trophies and cheques.
A total of 21 students from the area have been awarded scholarships by the trust so far.
Dignitaries present paid glowing tributes to Dr Panda, who was the first from Odisha to get doctoral degree in Anthropology for research on the state’s fishermen community.
A life devoted to the cause of society, Dr Panda gave up his career as a faculty from Utkal University and established and mentored many educational institutes in and around his village, worked with displaced land losers in the industrial belt of Paradip and was associated with many such organisations.
A gifted scholar, Dr Panda edited 10 magazines and wrote articles in many journals, newspapers and produced two books, including his last one ‘History of Paradip’ which was released by the trust in 2019 after his demise.
