Bimalendu Mohanty

Dr. Bimalendu Mohanty (born on 14 July 1937) is a well-known academician, civil servant, historian, writer, columnist, Major (NCC under the Ministry of Defence), and social activist with a career spanning over six decades. He is the former Vice Chancellor of the Utkal University of Culture, India's first-ever Culture University.
He has written several books on Buddhist history, arts, and architecture both in English and Odia language|Odia language. He has also edited a pioneering research book on Padmasambhava|GURU PADMASAMBHABA, who is regarded as the second Buddha in the entire Himalayan mainland and the founder of Lamaism. He has written some highly appreciated books on Buddhism, like Glimpses of Buddhist Legacy, Buddhist Heritage of Odisha from Kalinga to Sri Lanka, Dhauli: Past & Present, Buddhist Arts & Artefacts in Odisha, etc. He has written 20 books of relevance in Odia and 10 books in the English language in total. He was awarded the 2nd Global Buddhist Literature Award at the International Buddhist Conference, at Bodh Gaya, in February 2019 and was felicitated for his contribution to the Buddhist World.
== Personal life and Education ==
Dr. Bimalendu Mohanty was born on 14th July 1937. When we look at his works and achievements throughout, it is like he has justified his name 'Bimalendu' which means a pure & auspicious moon.
After completing his M.A. in history from Utkal University, he completed his M.Ed. from Missouri University USA and his Ph.D. from Ranchi University. Initially, he started his career as an educator and later served as an administrator in various government positions. In the ultimate stage of his career, he has evolved as a celebrated writer countrywide.
== Early life and Career ==
 
Apart from being a well-known writer, Dr. Bimalendu Mohanty has worked as an accomplished administrator at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Utkal University, Government of India & Government of Odisha. He has also been associated with various social activities, including being Chairman of Transparency International India (TII) and Odisha State Chapter, Working President of the Odisha Chapter of Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society, Executive Body Member of INTACH, Life Member of the Indian Red Cross Society, Ex-Vice President and Governing Body Member of Maha Bodhi Society of India, Founder Member of Governing Body of Human Life Centre, Member of India International Rural Cultural Centre, etc. He is regarded as an expert in rural development and is involved in the core activities of various grass root NGOs like Jeevan Rekha Parishad, Management Services of India, etc.
 
Service Details:
* Director, State Resource Centre for Adult Education, Orissa, Bhubaneswar (1996-1999)
* Director, Culture & Ex-Officio Additional Secretary to Govt. Tourism & Culture Department, Orissa, Bhubaneswar (1994-1996)
* Director, Sports and Youth Services and Ex-Officio Additional Secretary to Govt. Sports and Youth Services Department, Bhubaneswar (1991-1994)
* Registrar, Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (1987-1990)
* Deputy Programme Advisor, N.S.S., Ministry of Education and Culture, Govt. of India (1977-80)
* Dean, Students Welfare, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar
* Youth Welfare Officer, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar
* Lecturer, Stewart Science College, Cuttack
* Served as Whole-time N.C.C. Officer in the rank of Major, Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India
 
Other Positions:
* Founder Member and Governing Body Member of Human Life Centre, Bhubaneswar
* Director, Bhubaneswar Urban Cooperative Bank
* Former Editor, ADYAA, Weekly Odia News Magazine
* Secretary, State Youth Welfare Board, Orissa
* Secretary, Orissa Council of Sports
* Working President, Odisha Chapter of Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society
* President, (Odisha Centre), Maha Bodhi Society of India
* Advisor Development Committee, Dhauli Peace Pagoda, Bhubaneswar
 
== Books and Publications ==
Dr. Mohanty's interest in Buddhism has motivated him to document and produce scholarly works on the rich legacy of Buddhist history, its arts & architecture in India. Till date, he has published 28 books on the legacy of Buddhism & various other topics in Odia & English languages and continues to contribute regularly to various newspapers and publications.
# Kotokare Gotie Gopabandhu- Biographical sketch of Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das
# Desa Sebak Niranjan Pattnaik- Biographical sketch of a freedom fighter
# Swadesha Premi Dibakar Patnaik- Biological sketch of a freedom fighter
# Swadhinata Sangrami Mukunda Prasad- Biographical sketch of a freedom fighter
# Chintana ‘O’ Anuchintana- A complication of articles on culture of Orissa
# Aame Odiya Ebong Anyaanya
# Sweta Prasadara Krushnanga Rashtrapati
# Jatiprana Madhusudana
# Anagarika Dharmapala
# Byakti, Sanskruti O’ Sampratiki
# Ama Subhash
# Odishare Boudha Dharma O Boudha Kirti
# Kana Sikhaile BUDDHA
# Samayara Swaralipi
# Siddharthanka Jivanacharita
# Bharatara Baraputra Biju Patnaik
# Chaturdasha Dharmaguru: Dalai Lama
# Samasya O’ Samadhana
# Kana Sikhaile Mahatma Gandhi
Books in English Language:
# Land Beautiful on Orissan Culture
# Orissa Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
# Glimpses of Buddhist Legacy in Orissa
# Buddhist Heritage – from Kalinga to Sri Lanka
# Edited the souvenir brought out by Maha Bodhi Society of India on the occasion of 2550th Buddha Jayanti celebration
# Tribal Culture in Transition (Ed.)
# Jayadeva and Gitagovinda (Ed.)
# Padmasambhava of Udiyana- Odisha (Ed.)
# Dhauli- Past and Present
Along with these, Dr. Mohanty is respected for writing news articles on Buddhist history & culture, Odisha history, social issues, national issues, geo-political issues, etc. He has written more than 50 news articles for some of Odisha's renowned newspapers like The Samaja, Sambad, Swadhikar, Odisha Bhaskar, Sarbasadharana, Janatantra, Prameya, etc.
== Awards and Recognition ==
Dr. Bimalendu Mohanty is actively engaged in the history & research of Buddhism and in spreading its legacy to different parts of India. He has also motivated several popular literacy figures to write books on freedom fighters of Odisha to bring them into the limelight. His passion for the development of underprivileged people in society has regarded him as an expert in rural development and felicitated him with various state & international awards.
State Awards:
* Gopinath Mohanty Sammana 2011 by ‘SAMAYA’, Bhubaneswar for writing popular articles on education, culture and various current issues in Samaya on the occasion of its 15th Annual Function.
* Life Time Achievement Award 2012 by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha Sri J.B. Patnaik on the occasion of Golden Jubilee Celebration of OUAT on 23rd August 2012 for taking initiative in all round development of the University.
* Felicitation by Minister of Higher Education, Govt. of Odisha during the observance of State Level Celebration of NSS Day on 24th September 2012 for extraordinary contribution for popularizing NSS activities.
* Felicitation by the Chancellor of Utkal University of Culture as its founder on the occasion of 15th Foundation Day Celebration of this University in 2014 for establishing this unique university.
* President’s Award 2014 for the valuable contribution in all round development of Utkal Sangita Mahavidyalaya on the occasion of Golden Jubilee Celebration of the institution.
* Felicitated by the Mahtab Jayanti Committee on the 100th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Hareskrushna Mahtab in 2018.
* Felicitation by MBSI, Odisha Centre for being the first researcher on the birth place of Padmasambhava|Guru Padmasambhava, 2022.
International Awards:
* Maha Bodhi International Award 2019 by the Maha Bodhi Society of India, Bodh Gaya, Bihar in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the promotion and propagation of Buddhist studies through his translation, writing on various aspects of Buddhism and Buddhist literature.
Recognition in Various Fields:
* Sabuja Sammana 2009 by ‘PRERANA’ for planting and protecting trees in around Bhubaneswar.
* Bartayana Gourava 2010 by Literacy Magazine ‘Bartayan’, Dhenkanal on the 6th Annual Function for enriching Odia literature.
* Guru Pranam Samman 2011 by Swami Dayananda Services Mission, Bhubaneswar for enriching culture, literature, and education of Odisha.
* Ekamra Sanskrutika Sammana 2013 by Bhubaneswar Sanskrutika Parishad for outstanding contribution in the field of literature and culture.
* Mukunda Prasad Das Rajya Stariya Smruti Committee Sammana 2016 on the occasion of 129th Birth Day Celebration of Mukunda Prasad Das, great freedom fighter and first speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly.
* Sanskruti Sammana 2016 by Bhubaneswar Sanskrutika Parishad on Boita Bandana Utsava for the contribution in the field of culture.
* Kalinga Gourava Sammana 2016 by Satyasai Lokaseva Trust and Kalinga Education and Charitable Trust for the contribution in the field of education and social service.
Category:Indian people
Category:Indian writers
Category:1937 births