All about Dhenkanal

Traditionally Dhenkanal is considered to be a place well-known for its value for education. Its no-surprise why Dhenkanal District has done exceedingly well in Matriculation exams and has always remained in top slots (in terms of pass percentage) among all districts for a long time. This result at High School level has certainly carried over to technical education. Now, Dhenkanal district boasts of 2 Engineering colleges besides a few Diploma schools. The Engg. colleges are 1. IGIT, Sarang and 2. SIET, Dhenkanal . 1. IGIT or Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology , one of the oldest Govt. Engg. colleges of Orissa, was instituted in 1982. Presently, the institute offers Bachelors degree in 6 different disciplines (Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Metallurgy and Material Engineering). The institute also gives Diploma in Civil, Electrical, Electronics and Telecommunication, Mechanical and Metallurgical Engineering. Its alumni web-page can be found here . 2. Synergy Institute o

Indian Institute of Mass communication (IIMC) was set-up in August 1993 as a branch of IIMC, Delhi . The institute offers 2 Post Graduate Diploma courses in Oriya and English Journalism. Besides teaching, the institute carries out media studies and research work. In the past, the institute has conducted assessment study for State AIDS cell and also for Ministry of Tribal Affairs on NGOs working for tribal community. The institute has been instrumental in operating a few FM stations for villages in the outskirts Dhenkanal ( Read Ex-Resident Director, Prof. Bibhuti Bhusan Mohanty's comment ). Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal Photo obtained: From here The Institute is situated right behind the Rajbati. For the first few years, the institute was operating from a make-shift class room in Kunjakant Temple. The institute had rented, in Kunjakanta area, a few buildings/houses and used them as Boys and Girls hostels. After 3/4 years, the institute moved to their own c

In my earlier post , I had mentioned about Kalpana Das of Dhenkanal. On 16th of March, Kalpana set out on an expedition to climb Mt. Everest. The latest news informs that she has reached the first base camp at 5,900 m. Now, she will aim at reaching base camps at 6400m, 7500m, 7950m and 8048m. Wish her good luck in this mission. Read more

38-year-old Kalpana Das of Sariapara Village Dhenkanal has set out on an expedition to scale the 8848 m high Mt. Everest. As part a 10-member international team, she is making her 2nd attempt to scale the peak. In her first attempt during March and May 2004, she could reach a height of 7300 m without oxygen. Handicapped by a worn-out pair of shoes, because of severe cold, Kalpana quit at the last moment. Usually persons going on the expedition carry two pair of shoes. In fact, 5-members of the last year's team reached the peak using their second pair of shoes. Kalpana, however, handicapped by poor financing was having only one pair of shoes. Kalpana Das: "Bachendri Pal" of Dhenkanal Photo obtained from: Here This year, I hope, she has been able to collect some money to get all the logistics for the expedition. It seems the total expenditure for the expedition, including the logistics, is around Rs 32 lakhs. Wish her Good Luck for this expedition Articles: http:

Dhenkanal College Field, a place where I have spent more time than in the Classrooms/labs of Dhenkanal College. Even though, for 4 years I was a student of Dhenkanal College, I will remember the College for giving me the space to play cricket. Its been 10 years since I have left the college. Its education helped/forced me to separate from Dhenkanal. But my cricket career still reminds me my cricket at College Field. I played cricket on this ground for more than 10 years. (In future, I will post a few of my photos donning cricket suits in this space. I have match on 8th of this month in Philadelphia). Dhenkanal college boasts of a pretty good field, which is adjacent to the college cycle stand. This ground is used for conducting inter-class cricket tournament, Annual sport and various other activities. Apart from being used for college function/work, this is also used for hosting NCC Camps. This field used to have 3 cricket pitches- one close to the mountain, another close to the ma

Dhenkanal Collectorate is housed in building of British Era and situated in the heart of Dhenkanal Town. During my 10 years stay in the town, I have been to the Collectorate only twice. Both the times, it was related to pension work (not of mine !!!). Most of the time, the collectorate is pretty calm and cool with a couple of arm ed police men protecting the treasuries. The hustle-bustle returns during the opposition organized rallies when the front and back gates of the building are closed and the police men guard the complex. In front of the building, everyday a small daily market used to sit (I am not sure if it still sits there or not). Dhenkanal Collectorate ; Click on the photo to magnify Photo obtained from http://dhenkanal.nic.in/Index.htm (Notice the boundary wall, a surprise to me. It seems thats a new addition to this old building) This Collectorate is the office of Dhenkanal District Magistrate (DM). Currently, the DM of Dhenkanal-to my surprise- is a non-oriya lady

T he Rural Mathematics Talent Search (RMTS) Examination is meant to identify and support promising youngsters in rural areas of Orissa. As of 2005, roughly 800 thousand students study in class six in Orissa and so far IIMA has reached only 5000 students. SEEDS is contributing by working with in partnership with NGOs in 3 different geographical areas of Orissa to initiate the program/opportunity for the rural 6th graders. No money is required to be invested - only time and enthusiasm to change the rural areas. Please note that all you have to do is to find a local school and mobilize them to organize the test. Once they agree please send an e-mail at sandip.kumar.dasverma@gmail.com with the school's postal address. Institute of Mathematics and Applications(IMA) will mail them the application forms and info booklet and we will go from there. This year the goal is to reach all the 314 blocks of Orissa and I am sure if everyone take responsibility of organizing one center in a bloc

Established on 2nd November 1981 , Dhenkanal Law College is affiliated to Utkal University. The Institute offers 3-year integrated LLB course. The school has a strength of 720 students (240 students in each year) and receives grants from University Grant Commission (UGC) time to time. Address: Dhenkanal Law College, Dhenkanal At: Station Road Po/Dt: Dhenkanal Pin: 759013 Orissa, India Phone: +91-6762-28733

Dhenkanal Science Center was established in 1995 under the aegis of National Council of Museum. The center is situated near Dhenkanal Rajbati (~ 8 kms from Dhenkanal Railway Station and ~ 2 kms from Dhenkanal Bust stand). The first time, I went to the Science Center was in 1996 and the second time was during a Sandhyatara quiz contest. During my first trip- then I was studying +2 Science- I was really thrilled to see the application of science in very simple exhibits. Application and explanation of the principles of Centrifugal force, conservation of momentum and conservation of moment of inertia in models were amazing. While visiting Science City, Kolkata in 2001 I realized the importance and power of Science City, which is to spread and popularize the knowledge and power of science among the common people. The good news is that, Dhenkanal Science Center is now trying to build a planetarium, in line with the Pathani Samant Planetarium, Bhubaneswar. This will help in explaining a few

Brajanath Badajena is better known as "Samar Kabi" (War Poet). He borned in 1730 in the family of Mr. Balukeswar Patanaik in Kabara village of Dhenkanal District. He was a poet, an artist, an ayurvedician, an astrologer and a musician rolled into one. Though he was adept in numerous Shastras, he was famous for "Ritiyuga". ‘Keli Kalanidhi’, ‘Bidesh’ ‘Anuchinta’, ‘Dasapoi’, ‘Gopi Bilapa’, ‘Shyamarasostav’, Bichakhyanae’, ‘Ambika Bilasha’ and ‘Samarataranga' are some of his gems. He also wrote many short stories: 'Chandi Malashri’, ‘Rajananku Chhala Bhakti’, ‘Raja Sabha’& 'Ketoti Janana O Sangeeta'. Some of his works has been collected and compiled by eminent historian Late Mr. Sudhakara Pattanaik. For Brajanath's contributions to literature, erstwhile King of Dhenkanal coferred on his family the title "Badajena". Barajanath died at the age of 70. A high school in Dhenkanal town has been named after him as "Barajanath Badajena

Dhenkanal Autonomous College has gone online now. "Dhenkanal College" was established in 1959 (January 7th) and affiliated to Utkal University of Orissa. At the beginning the college had only pre-university classes in Arts. In the year 2002, the college was granted autonomous status and with that the college was rechristened to "Dhenkanal Autonomous College". Currently, the institute offers 3-year degree courses in Science, Arts and Commerce besides the PG degree in Botany, Commerce and History. The webpage has been designed by two final year Computer Science (Hons) students with guidance from their teachers. It looks pretty cool. And I hope in future it will get better and better. Official address: Dhenkanal Autonomous College Dhenkanal-759 001 Orissa, India Phone: + 91-6762-224420 Fax: + 91-6762-226885 Webpage: http://dhenkanalcollege.ac.in/ Update: The Dhenkanal College has a group in Orkut at http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=10607300