Dr Hrusikesh Panda, IAS (1979 Topper) & Writer
Book Launch & Poetry Reading in Hyderabad
An intellectual, literary & poetic rendezvous on 07 Mar 2026 in Hyderabad

An inspiring meeting about the life and literary service of the famous Odia writer, Dr Hrusikesh Panda, IAS (1979) topper, was held on Saturday (March 7) at Badruka College, Kachiguda, Hyderabad.

Before we brief about the programme, let’s have a brief look at the representative achievements of Dr Hrusikesh. IAS topper (1979), he holds PhD (English), MSc (Nuclear Chemistry), MBA (Australia).

Dr Hrusikesh retired as Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Welfare, Govt. of India; penned articles on environment, ecology, disaster management, forest rights, healthcare, arts, poetics, etc.; authored 10 novels, 4 plays, and 100 short stories; produced about 12 films of social awareness for Doordarshan. He lives at Kalidaspur village, Bhadrak District, Odisha.

Dr Hrusikesh explained that the people in the region—Odia/ Kalinga/ Ohara/ Utkala—had trade and cultural relations with distant foreign lands like Mexico thousands of years ago—what with the extensive & profound research he has done. He narrated these & other relevant things by way of his answers to a panel of intellectuals and litterateurs like Prof YL Srinivas (Vice-Chancellor, Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University, who chaired the meeting); Dr Lipipuspa Nayak (who translated Hrusikesh’s Odia works into English, and was the distinguished guest); Kavita (from Bruhat NGO); and U Atreya Sarma (Chief Editor, Muse India)—in the presence of V Srinivas Murthy (President, Prajna Bharati); Prof Abhirama Krishna (Director General, Badruka Group of Institutions), and Dr DVNS Murthy (Principal, BBCIT).

This meaningful meeting was jointly organised by PRAGNA BHARATI, a reputed intellectual body headed by ‘Padma Shri’ T Hanuman Chowdary & MUSE INDIA literary ezine of which Atreya Sarma U is Chief Editor.

A novel and a short story collection by Dr Hrisikesh translated into Telugu by Swati Sripada, a well-known translator, poet & fiction writer, were launched at the meeting. The Telugu titles of the novel and the short story collection, respectively, are—aparichita sooryaastamayamloeki (“Into the unknow sunset”), and gaazu neeDalu (“Glass shadows”).

The English translations by Dr Lipipuspa Nayak from the Odia original, done earlier, are “On Deer Back to a Sunset Unknown” and “Love Stories” respectively.

Dr Lipipuspa Nayak, PhD (English), who recently retired as Principal from Kunja Bihari College, Baranga, Khordha, is a writer & translator—was, as said earlier, the Distinguished guest on the occasion. Swati Sripada was the guest of honour.

The rendezvous, which began with poetry readings by 17 prominent poets, was successful.

The distinguished audience included, inter alia,— Kancharla Venkata Ramana (a devotional initiator and descendant of the legendary devotional saint & composer ‘Ramadasu’ Kancharla Gopanna, 1620 – 1688); Yenugu Krishna Murty (owner of the unique YK Antiques); Dr Sujatha Gopal (English savant & translator), Dr Dittakavi Syamala Devi (prolific author); and writer & translator Dr Chiruvolu Parthasarathi.