I will Always Grateful to KISS and KIIT

Dr. Raj Kumar Khosla, Prof. Brahmananda Sathpathy, Dr. Ratnakar Mohapatra and Dr. Tusarkanta Pattnaik are congratulating to Dr. Jyotiranjan Gudia in 2025 at Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.

I am Dr. Jyotiranjan Gudia, a proud member of the Didayi tribal community. My home is in Muduliguda village under Rasabeda Gram Panchayat, located in Khairaput Block of Malkangiri district, Odisha. My father’s name is Buda, my mother’s name is Radha and I have a younger sister named Menaka. Our family has always lived a simple life rooted in hard work and values. My father is a farmer who toils in the fields to support our family, while my mother contributes to the household income by collecting kendu leaves, gathering mahua flowers and working in other people’s houses. Her tireless efforts ensured that I could continue my education even in difficult times. At times, my father’s younger brothers and sisters my uncles and aunts, namely Jagannath Gudia, the late Tulasi Gudia, Rameshwara Gudia and the late Laxman Gudia would also lend their support by contributing small amounts of money to help with my schooling expenses. Growing up in such a modest environment taught me the value of perseverance, humility and the importance of education. It was my parents’ dream to see me study well and build a better life, not just for myself but also for our community.

Dr. Jyotiranjan Gudia in his Ph.D. viva voce examination seminar.

Since my childhood, my father had a strong determination to give me a good education, something that was rare in our tribal community. With that dream in his heart, he enrolled me in a school at Kudumulugumma, a nearby village where I received my primary and secondary education. When I was in the fifth grade, my hidden talent for painting was discovered by Maheshwara Maharana Sir, one of my teachers who played a key role in shaping my creative journey. He encouraged me to pursue art seriously, provided me with paints and brushes and even arranged small paid assignments for me through his contacts at the Anganwadi Centre, Gram Panchayat and Block Office. His constant support gave me confidence and purpose at a young age. During that period, I also began learning traditional wedding and ritual paintings, as well as calligraphy, from a local artist named Sanjay from Kudumulugumma village. These early experiences not only developed my artistic skills but also deepened my connection with the cultural heritage of my community. After completing class seven, upon the request of Maharana Sir, the Headmaster of the primary school, Keshab Chandra Pradhan, allowed me to stay on the school premises for another three years so that I could continue my studies from class eight to ten. Their guidance, kindness and encouragement during those formative years became the foundation of my educational and artistic journey.

Dr. Jyotiranjan Gudia and hi Co-guide Dr. Ratnakar Mohapatra

In 2012, I passed my matriculation examination a milestone that marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life. Pursuing higher education had always been a dream, especially given the financial hardships my family faced. Despite these challenges, I held onto hope and faith. I regularly prayed to Goddess Bhairabi of Purunagumma village, seeking her blessings for an opportunity to study at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar. Through her divine grace and my parents’ unwavering support, I was admitted to KISS in 2012 to pursue +2 Arts. From that moment onward, I promised myself that I would never look back.

At KISS, I completed my +2 Arts between 2012 and 2014, earned my B.A. (Honours) in Political Science from 2014 to 2017 and went on to complete my M.A. in Political Science from 2017 to 2019. I then pursued my M.Phil. in Political Science between 2019 and 2021 and later, my Ph.D. from 2021 to 2025. These 13 years at KISS not only shaped my academic journey but also strengthened my values, discipline and commitment to serve my community. During my M.Phil., my research topic was “Socio-cultural Development of Didayi Tribe in Odisha: A Case Study on Malkangiri District.” I conducted this research under the supervision of Dr. Tusarkanta Pattnaik, whose constant guidance and encouragement helped me build a strong foundation for my future research. For my Ph.D., my research topic was “Continuity and Changes of Traditional Political System of Didayi Tribe in Odisha: A Case Study of Malkangiri District.” I carried out this study under the able supervision of Dr. Tusarkanta Pattnaik as my Research Guide and Dr. Ratnakar Mohapatra as my Co-guide. My Ph.D. Roll No. was 21193016 and Registration No. 20190170100003. To ensure academic rigor, the Department of Political Science at KISS appointed Prof. Jugal Kishore Mishra and Dr. Raj Kumar Khosla as members of my Research Scrutiny Committee (RSC). My thesis was examined by Dr. Pradip Kumar Parida, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Jawaharlal Nehru University (CCPPT, SIS), New Delhi, who served as the External Examiner. My Ph.D. Viva Voce Examination was successfully held on 15 October 2025, in the presence of Prof. Brahmananda Satapathy, who attended as the Hon’ble VC Nominee of KISS Deemed to be University. That day was one of the most memorable and fulfilling moments of my life, as it marked the culmination of years of dedication, struggle and perseverance in my academic journey.

Between 2012 and 2025, I studied at KISS (Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences) completely free of cost. Alongside my academic education, I also refined my artistic skills through the institute’s vocational training programs. During this period, I actively participated in numerous painting competitions held across Odisha and proudly secured the state-level first prize three times. In 2016, on the occasion of Children’s Day, I had the opportunity to draw a live portrait of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, on Kalinga TV within just two minutes. The performance was widely appreciated and became a memorable moment in my artistic journey. In 2017, I again received recognition when I sketched Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday, also within two minutes, which earned appreciation from teachers, peers and media alike. These experiences not only strengthened my confidence as an artist but also inspired me to see art as a meaningful way to connect with people and express cultural identity.

Having studied at KISS for 14 long years, I feel proud and deeply grateful to have grown not only as a good human being but also as the first doctorate holder from the Didayi (PVTG) community. My Ph.D. research on the Continuity and Changes of the Traditional Political System of the Didayi Tribe in Malkangiri District has been a journey of learning, reflection and commitment to my roots. Through this work, I hope to contribute meaningfully to the development of my community, preserve our indigenous knowledge systems and create greater awareness about the cultural and political heritage of the Didayi people.

I owe a special debt of gratitude to Prof. Achyuta Samanta Sir, the visionary founder of KISS, whose tireless efforts have transformed the lives of countless tribal students like me. His mission to empower tribal communities through education has been a constant source of inspiration. Whatever I have achieved today is possible because of the opportunities, guidance and values I received at KISS, which truly embodies the spirit of education with humanity.