The Gopabandhu Das Research Chair, KISS-DU observed the 146th Birth Anniversary of Pandit Gopabandhu Das on 9th October 2022. Prof. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS paid floral tribute at the statue of Utkalamani Gopabandhu Das along with the distinguished guests and senior functionaries of KISS. On the occasion, a seminar was organized on the theme, ‘The Vision of Gopabandhu on Education’ ‘(Gopabandhunka Sikhya Drusti)’.

Presiding over the seminar, Professor Deepak Kumar Behera, Vice Chancellor, KISS-DU said that the aims and objectives of Satyabadi Bana Vidyalaya, founded by Pandit Gopabadhu Das, and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), founded by Prof. Achyuta Samanta, are in sync with each other. Drawing the similarities, he said that the purpose of both is to ensure that the students transform into good human beings.

Dr. Bijayananda Singh, Gopabandhu Das Research Chair Professor introduced the Chief Guest, Dr. Sangram Jena, Vice–President, Odisha Sahitya Akademi as an illustrious poet and a prolific writer. The first demand of Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das was to ensure free universal education with residential facilities and the same concept has been reflected in KISS, he stated. Professor Bijaya Kumar Satapathy, Professor of Emeritus, KISS-DU made an analysis of Gopabandhu Das and Madhusudan Das.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sangram Jena said that Gopabandhu was a critic of the then educational system. He believed that education should aim at making good human beings. Service to mankind, physical labour, sympathetic attitude and self-reliance should be the motto of education. School and educational institutions should be in natural surroundings and more schools should be set up in the villages. There should be co-ordination between classical knowledge and modern knowledge. Gandhiji was impressed by Gopabandhu and established Nai Talim at Wardha. He also made a comparative study between Gopabandhu Das and Saint-Poet Bhima Bhoi as propagators of spiritual humanism and self-sacrifice.

Dr. Prashanta Kumar Routray, Registrar, KISS-DU expressed the idea of translating the ideologies of Gopabandhu into action to see a changed world. The faculty members, senior functionaries, Research Chair Professors, students and scholars participated in the programme.