A Brush with Tradition: Jyotiranjan Gudia's Live Painting Tribute on Children's Day at KISS

Jyotiranjan Gudia 6/28/2025 11:35:00 AM

 A Brush with Tradition: Jyotiranjan Gudia's Live Painting Tribute on Children's Day at KISS

Jyotiranjan Gudia with Indian Traditional Kurta.

This photograph captures a proud and vibrant moment from the year 2015, featuring Jyotiranjan Gudia dressed in a traditional Indian kurta during Children’s Day celebrations at Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar. The maroon kurta, gifted to him by Mr. Pramod Patra, Assistant CEO of the institute, symbolizes not only cultural heritage but also the respect and encouragement Jyotiranjan received from mentors during his early artistic journey. What followed after donning this attire was a moment of artistic brilliance and historical significance. In front of Dr. Achyuta Samanta, the visionary founder of KISS and KIIT, and a sea of 25,000 tribal children, Jyotiranjan Gudia brought to life a live painting of India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who is fondly remembered as Chacha Nehru. The performance honored Nehru's legacy and his love for children, making the occasion even more memorable. Jyotiranjan Gudia, now a Ph.D. scholar and the first from the Didayi tribe of Malkangiri district, Odisha, has always balanced tradition, creativity, and scholarship. Whether it is preserving his community's political systems through research or expressing culture through art, he stands as a beacon of indigenous excellence. This moment in 2015 reflects not only his cultural pride but also his deep commitment to using his talents for inspiring tribal youth, blending academic purpose with cultural expression. It is one of the many foundational steps in the journey of a man who continues to make his community proud.


Jyotiranjan Gudia

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Jyotiranjan Gudia was born on May 1, 1997, in Muduliguda village of Malkangiri district, Odisha. He belongs to a tribal community and has a deep connection with the culture, traditions and social systems of indigenous people. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. at Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar. His research focuses on the traditional political system of the Didayi tribe, one of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in Odisha. His doctoral thesis, titled "Continuity and Changes of Traditional Political System of Didayi Tribe in Odisha: A Case Study of Malkangiri District," explores how traditional governance systems have evolved in response to modern influences. Jyotiranjan has conducted extensive fieldwork in 12 villages of Malkangiri, studying traditional leadership roles such as Naik, Chalan, Pujari and Dishari. Committed to preserving tribal identity and knowledge, he continues to work toward empowering indigenous communities through research and advocacy.

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