Paradip: Economically backward but meritorious students have been awarded scholarship by Dr Satyananda Panda Memorial Trust on the occasion of fifth death anniversary of Dr Panda at Janata Nodal School, 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 and Sasmita Rout and Sasmita Tarai of Naryan Birabara Samant College in Jhimani, established under the patronage of Dr Panda,were awarded scholarship in his honour, who was a noted educationist, social worker and writer of Jagatsinghpur district.
Dr Banaprabha Parida, Principal of Narayan Birabar Samanta College its lecturer Kishore Jena, teachers of Janata Nodal School Sagarika Dhal, former headmistress of the school Kalpana Sutar, awarded the students trophy and cheques after paying glowing tribute to the departed soul, the first to have doctoral degree of the state in Anthropology with research on fishermen community of Odisha.
Besides staff of both the institutions, members of the Trust Nimanin Chaudhury, Prakash Panda, Subhransu Panda, other dignitaries were present on the occasion and paid homage to Dr Panda. Till date 21 economically backward meritorious students of the area have been given scholarships by the trust.
A life devoted to the cause of the society, Dr. Pandahad given up his career as a faculty from Utkal University and established and mentored many educational institutes in and around his village, worked with the displaced land losers in the industrial belt of Paradip and was associated with many such organisations.
A gifted scholar, he had edited more than 10 magazines, and written articles in many journals, newspapers and produced two books. His last book History of Paradip depicting socio-anthropological life of the coastal region around the port city, was released after his demise in 2019 by the trust.