Sanakhemundi Royal & Former Odisha MLA Uday Narayan Dev Passes Away

Bhubaneswar: Former MLA and king of erstwhile Ganjam Sanakhemundi, Uday Narayan Dev, breathed his last while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar. He was 87.

He was elected MLA three consecutive times in 1974,1977 and 1980 from Mohana Assembly constituency.

Uday Narayan Dev is also known for his passion for birding, which became a full-time occupation after electoral defeats. His most exhaustive work on birds ‘Vihanga Samhita’, a book in six volumes about more than 2,085 birds, was released by Governor Ganeshi Lal on January 21.

The book was a result of 45 years of extensive research under his project ‘Orientalisation of Oriental Ornithology’ and includes Sanskrit taxonomy of birds in the sub-continent, names of the birds in all Indian languages and explains 127 colour plates on birds.

He inherited an interest in birds from his father late Nandakishor Anangabhima Dev Keshari Gajapati Maharaj, who was also a falconer, of Sanakhemundi.

Uday Narayan Dev had also built a bird museum to train youths in ornithology as a part of his ‘Project Vihanga’ in Chilika. He was conferred with the Biju Patnaik Award for Wildlife Conservation for his contribution to avian research and conservation as well as for popularisation and Doctor of Science degree by the OUAT.​