Jitray Marandi, a research scholar from Mayurbhanj district, has completed his Ph.D. on his topic “Use of Short Stories for English Language Skill Development of Tribal Students: An Assessment,” under the joint supervision of Dr. Preetinanda Roy, Assistant Professor at B.J.B Autonomous College and Dr. Disha Bhatt, Assistant Professor at the School of Comparative Tribal Languages and Literatures, KISS-DU, Bhubaneswar.

Dr. Marandi began his educational journey at KISS, joining the +3 Arts (English) program in 2016-2019. He later pursued an M.A. in English at KIIT Deemed to be University in 2019-2021. Following his Master’s degree, driven by a strong commitment to enhancing English language skills among tribal students, Dr. Marandi enrolled in Ph.D. program in 2021 at KISS Deemed to be University.

Dr. Marandi’s research, titled “Use of Short Stories for English Language Skill Development of Tribal Students: An Assessment,” holds significant relevance for KISS-DU and its academic mission. He explores how short stories can be used as an effective pedagogical tool to improve English language skills among tribal learners. The research focuses on enhancing the four core language skills listening, speaking, reading and writing by integrating culturally relevant and engaging short stories into classroom teaching.

The study assesses how storytelling methods help overcome common challenges faced by tribal students, such as limited exposure to English, lack of confidence and contextual disconnect from conventional textbooks. By using simple, relatable narratives, the research demonstrates that students become more motivated, improve comprehension and develop better communication skills.

Overall, the study highlights the importance of learner-centered and culturally sensitive teaching approaches, suggesting that short stories can play a significant role in making English language learning more accessible, meaningful and effective for tribal students.

During his Ph.D. tenure, he experienced profound personal loss, including the passing of his elder brother, his uncle and his brother-in-law. These challenging circumstances created significant emotional and practical difficulties. However, through resilience, determination, and dedication to his goals, Dr. Marandi successfully overcame these hardships and completed his doctoral studies within five years 2021-2026.

Reflecting on his journey and experiences, Dr. Marandi said: “I am deeply thankful to my Supervisor, Dr. Preetinanda Roy and Co-supervisor Dr. Disha Bhatt. I express my deep gratitude to Dr. Chittaranjan Bhoi, Dean, SCTLL. My sincere appreciation also goes to Dr. Chittaranjan Bhoi, Dean, SCTLL and Dr. Ratnaprava Parij, HoD, English. I would also like to acknowledge with gratitude the faculty members of the Department of English, who have always been like a family to me. My sincere thanks also go to the School of Comparative Tribal Languages and Literatures (SCTLL), Lastly, I humbly express my deepest gratitude to the Hon’ble Founder of KISS and KIIT, Dr. Achyuta Samanta, for providing me with the invaluable opportunity to pursue my research at KISS Deemed to be University. What I am today is because of him”.