Story of Dr. Jyotiranjan Gudia
“His achievement
represents far more than an academic degree. It marks the growing presence of
Indigenous scholars in spaces of higher intellectual leadership.”
-
Dr. Jyotiranjan Gudia
Born
in Muduliguda village in Malkangiri, Jyotiranjan overcame financial hardships
to write history as the first Ph.D. holder from the Didayi PVTG community.
His
father worked as a farmer, while his mother supported the family by collecting
kendu leaves, gathering mahua flowers and working in nearby homes. In 2012,
after completing his matriculation, Jyotiranjan joined KISS Deemed to be
University to pursue higher studies; a turning point that would shape the next
fourteen years of his life. At KISS, he completed his +2 Arts, B.A., M.A.,
M.Phil. and eventually his Ph.D. in Political Science.
His
doctoral research was titled "Continuity and Changes of Traditional
Political System of Didayi Tribe in Odisha: A Case Study of Malkangiri
District." Guided by Dr. Tusarkanta Pattnaik and Dr. Ratnakar Mohapatra,
his work explored the evolving political and governance systems within the
Didayi community, contributing valuable documentation and academic insight into
Indigenous structures that remain underrepresented in mainstream scholarship.
Beyond
academics, Jyotiranjan continued to nurture an incredible artistic talent. Over
the years, he won multiple state-level painting competitions and gained
recognition for creating live portraits of national leaders within minutes
during public events and television appearances.
In
October 2025, after years of research, fieldwork and perseverance, Jyotiranjan
successfully completed his Ph.D., a historic milestone. Through his work, he
hopes to preserve Indigenous knowledge systems, strengthen awareness about
Didayi heritage and inspire young tribal students to see themselves as future
leaders.
.png) |
| https://kissnew.kiss.ac.in/stories-of-change/?utm_source=chatgpt.com |
.jpeg)
.jpg)
0 Comments