Ganjam: The switch over from an IIS (Indian Information Service) officer with all the trappings of a civil servant to a normal Ganjam resident was as simple as a fish taking to water for Shankar Narayan Panigrahi.
He was assistant director in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Panigrahi wanted to live a discreet life after retirement two years back but ironically, his austere lifestyle makes him noticeable. He does not even possess what is considered a basic requirement now-a-days – a vehicle and a mobile phone. He has an old house and two chairs as furniture.
People in his native place at Kulada village under Bhanjanagar block in Ganjam district can see him cycling around wearing simple clothes. He buys his own groceries and cooks himself.
Panigrahi spends most of his time motivating the village youth and teaching young children. One of his aims is also to create awareness among the villagers and convince them not to have blind faith in anything.
