Basanta Kumar Rana

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Very happy that the 6th Annual Convocation of KISS Deemed to be University was successfully held today. My heartfelt gratitude to all the distinguished guests who graced the occasion and made it memorable for the entire KISS family.

KISS is such a beautiful institution. It is a school, a college and also a university. A poor tribal child joins us in Class I and, after completing their education, leaves with a higher education degree and, in most cases, a job in hand. What gives me even greater happiness is that these children go on to become changemakers for their families, communities and society. This is the real beauty of KISS. We have been nurturing and grooming them throughout their educational journey, not just to earn degrees but to become good human beings who can bring positive change to the lives of others. This is what I have always dreamt of.

Every Convocation gives me immense happiness and satisfaction. Seeing my lovable KISSians graduating and moving towards a better and more dignified life makes me feel that all my efforts over the years have been worthwhile.

My heartfelt congratulations and blessings to all my lovable KISSians graduating today. I wish each one of you a bright and successful future. Always remain humble, remember your roots and make your families and society proud.

My sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this Convocation. May God bless all my children.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Very happy to share that KIIT is hosting the prestigious Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Men’s Volleyball League 2026 for the first time in India, from 15th to 22nd November 2026, at KIIT Campus, Bhubaneswar.

The league will feature 8 teams from 7 nations, with two teams from India and one each from Iran, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Maldives. More than 200 players, referees, team officials, international delegates and supporting staff from 15 different countries will be part of this grand sporting event.

It was a pleasure to personally welcome Mr Mohamed Latheef, President of CAVA, and Mr Arachchillage Shanthasiri Nalaka, General Secretary of CAVA, along with the distinguished members of the CAVA Control Committee, to KIIT today. I am very happy to have them with us for this prestigious international tournament.

My sincere gratitude to the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), Asian Volleyball Confederation( AVC ), Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA), Volleyball Federation of India and all members of the Odisha Volleyball Association for their support and cooperation in bringing this prestigious international tournament to Odisha.

I have always believed that sports have the power to bring people and nations together. At KIIT and KISS, we have made continuous efforts to provide world-class sporting facilities and opportunities for sportspersons to excel. It is a proud moment for KIIT, KISS and Odisha. My best wishes to all the participating teams for a successful and memorable championship.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

6th Annual Convocation of KISS Deemed to be University

KISS, as many people say, is truly the beauty of the world and the surprise of the world. For the last 35 years, I have dedicated my life to the education and upliftment of tribal (Indigenous) children. Only God and I know how many difficulties, struggles and obstacles I have faced to bring KISS to where it stands today.

The journey has never been easy. I have faced mountains of challenges, jealousy and envy, but I have overcome everything with patience, determination and faith in the Almighty. Without His blessings, KISS might not have survived. Even securing university status for KISS from the Government of India, making it the world's first tribal university, was a Herculean task. When I look back, I sometimes wonder how it all became possible.

This is why every Convocation of KISS gives me immense happiness and satisfaction. To see a poor tribal child who once entered KISS in Class I, with almost nothing, leave with a higher education degree and the confidence to lead a dignified life is something I cannot express in words. I have always believed that when we educate one generation, we secure a better future for the generations to come. This has been the purpose of my life.

I feel particularly honoured that the 6th Annual Convocation of KISS Deemed to be University is being graced by three distinguished judges of the International Court of Justice, including its President, Hon’ble Judge Yuji Iwasawa, along with Hon’ble Judge Leonardo Nemer Caldeira Brant and Hon’ble Judge Bogdan-Lucian Aurescu. Their gracious presence makes this occasion even more special for the entire KISS family.

My heartfelt congratulations to all my dear KISSians graduating today and my sincere gratitude to our distinguished guests for being part of this memorable occasion.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Very happy to welcome a 35-member delegation from Tottori, Japan, to KIIT & KISS today. It was a pleasure to meet them and hear their impressions after visiting our campuses and interacting with our staff and students. Humbled by their kind words about our work in education and social service.

4 MoUs were signed with Tottori University, Onestruction, TOA Software and IEPMF & R Zero to strengthen academic engagement, joint research and industry collaboration. These partnerships will create opportunities for internships, employment and centres of excellence across engineering, management and healthcare. Representatives of Japanese companies from diverse sectors also introduced their organisations to our students.

My sincere thanks and gratitude to all our guests for their visit and their interest in working with us. I hope this friendship brings our institutions and people closer and opens new opportunities for our students.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

25 years ago, 32 children from my native area began their educational journey at KISS. I was so happy when they came to meet me and shared how their lives have changed. After completing their education, almost all of them are now well settled in jobs and other professions, leading independent and respectable lives.

For me, this is the real success of KISS. These children, who once came with dreams in their eyes, have grown up to support their families and contribute to their communities. They are now becoming agents of change, inspiring the next generation to dream bigger and move forward through education.

Seeing this change in my own area gives me great personal satisfaction.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Humbled to receive the Education World Lifetime Achievement Award 2026-27 at the Annual Education World India School Rankings Awards 2026-27 in New Delhi, for my lifelong and extraordinary work in the fields of education, healthcare and sports. My sincere thanks to the EducationWorld jury for this honour.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Heartiest congratulations to our Indian men’s hockey team on their splendid 8–1 victory over South Korea to enter the Asian Champions Trophy final. Your teamwork has made us all proud. My best wishes to the entire team for the final against Japan.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Heartiest congratulations to Odisha’s Tanvi Patri on becoming the first Indian woman to reach the badminton final at the Youth Olympic Games. At just 15, you have made Odisha and India proud. My blessings and best wishes for the final.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

20 Global Leaders from Israel Visit KIIT & KISS.

Very happy to welcome a 20-member delegation of global leaders from Israel to KIIT & KISS under our IndiaTrek programme. They are with us for over a week to immerse themselves in various activities, visit our campuses, interact with our staff and students, and explore Odisha’s culture and heritage. Our 40,000 tribal children at KISS welcomed them with much love and affection.

Through IndiaTrek, we have been inviting friends from across the world to experience India, particularly Odisha, its people, art, culture and heritage. It is a pleasure to have our friends from Israel spend time with our students and see our work in education and social service closely.

I was also humbled to receive a certificate of appreciation from the Harvard Club of Israel and the IndiaTrek participants for my efforts in education and humanitarian service. My sincere thanks and gratitude to them for their kind words and thoughtful gesture.

I wish all our guests a happy and memorable stay with us and hope they carry home fond memories of Odisha and our children.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

On World Science Day for Peace and Development, let us celebrate the role of science in improving lives and bringing people together. May education and research continue to guide us towards a more peaceful and caring world.

#WorldScienceDay

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

My humble tributes to Shri Pradyumna Bal, Founder President of KIIT and KISS Society, on his 94th birth anniversary. He always stood for truth and the welfare of the poor. Though he left us in 1999, his values continue to guide me. Remembering him with deep respect and gratitude, I encouraged our children to follow his example of honesty and service to society.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

ଆମ ଜନଜାତି ସମ୍ପ୍ରଦାୟରେ ମାଣ୍ଡିଆର ଏକ ସ୍ଵତନ୍ତ୍ର ସ୍ଥାନ ରହିଆସିଛି। #MandiaDibasa ଅବସରରେ ମୁଁ ଆମର ସେହି ଚାଷୀଭାଇମାନଙ୍କୁ କୃତଜ୍ଞତା ଜଣାଉଛି। ସେମାନେ ହିଁ ମାଣ୍ଡିଆ ପରମ୍ପରାକୁ ବଜାୟ ରଖିଛନ୍ତି।
ଆସନ୍ତୁ ଏହି ପୌଷ୍ଟିକ ଶସ୍ୟକୁ ଆମ ଦୈନନ୍ଦିନ ଖାଦ୍ୟର ଏକ ଅଂଶ କରିବା ଏବଂ ପିଲାମାନଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଏହାକୁ ଖୁସିରେ ଖାଇବା ପାଇଁ ଉତ୍ସାହିତ କରିବା।

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

It always gives me great happiness to meet the parents of my lovable KISSians. They have entrusted their children to us, and I have always felt that they should see for themselves how their children are living, learning and growing.

At our quarterly parents’ meet, parents visit the campus, spend time with their children and look around the facilities. I always encourage them to ask questions and satisfy themselves before returning home. Their trust means a great deal to me.

This time, they were particularly happy to see the modernisation of KISS, including individual beds for the children and new steel dining tables and seating arrangements. I was very happy to hear their words of appreciation and their confidence in the care we provide.

Providing education, food, accommodation and care completely free of cost to 40,000 children on one campus is a huge responsibility. My constant effort is to give them the comfort, facilities and opportunities available in any good school in India.

For me, every child at KISS is my own. Their well-being and the confidence of their parents will always remain close to my heart.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

After spending the past few days with our KIIT & KISS family and exploring Odisha, our 20 friends from Israel came together to share their experiences before leaving. Very happy to join them at the Leadership Connect and valedictory ceremony of the India Trek for Global Leaders programme and present them with certificates.

Led by Mr Sagi Melamed, Chief Development Officer of the Israel Antiquities Authority and Co-President of the Harvard Club of Israel, the delegates shared their experiences of the past few days. They spoke warmly about our students, our campuses and their time in Odisha. Humbled by their kind words comparing KIIT & KISS with leading organisations across the world and saying they felt fortunate to be here.

This is India Trek—bringing friends from across the world together for cultural exchange and an opportunity to experience India, particularly Odisha, its people, culture and heritage, through KIIT & KISS. Happy that our friends are taking home such fond memories. My sincere thanks and gratitude to all of them for spending time with us.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

It was a great honour and pleasure to personally welcome Hon’ble Judge Yuji Iwasawa, President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), along with two other distinguished judges of the world's highest judicial body, Judge Leonardo Nemer Caldeira Brant and Judge Bogdan-Lucian Aurescu, to KIIT and KISS today.

Our distinguished guests are here to attend the International Law Conference on “Contribution of International Court of Justice to World Peace”, organised by KIIT School of Law on 14th November, and to grace the 6th Annual Convocation of KISS Deemed to be University tomorrow, 13th November.

The International Court of Justice, established in 1945 and headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It is a matter of great pride for us that a sitting President of the ICJ is visiting KIIT and KISS for the first time.

Earlier, we had the honour of welcoming three other distinguished ICJ judges: Hon’ble Justice Dr Dalveer Bhandari of India, Hon’ble Justice Dr Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf of Somalia, former President of the ICJ, and Hon’ble Justice Antônio Augusto Cançado Trindade of Brazil. With today's visit, six distinguished judges of the International Court of Justice, including its sitting President, have visited KIIT and KISS. It is indeed rare for a university to have the privilege of welcoming so many judges from the world's highest judicial body. We feel truly honoured.

For KIIT and KISS, which have always believed in education, peace and service to humanity, the presence of such distinguished personalities means a lot. I am especially happy that our students will have the opportunity to learn from their vast experience and knowledge.

My heartfelt gratitude to all three distinguished judges and their spouses for honouring KIIT and KISS with their gracious presence.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

ପବିତ୍ର ଦୀପାବଳି ଓ କାଳୀପୂଜା ଉପଲକ୍ଷେ ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ଶୁଭକାମନା!
ଆଲୋକର ମହାପର୍ବ ଦୀପାବଳି ଏବଂ ମା’ କାଳୀଙ୍କ ପୂଜାର ଏହି ପବିତ୍ର ଅବସରରେ ଆପଣଙ୍କୁ ଓ ଆପଣଙ୍କ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ଅଶେଷ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା।
ଦୀପର ପବିତ୍ର ଆଲୋକ ଆପଣଙ୍କ ଜୀବନର ସମସ୍ତ ଅନ୍ଧକାର, ଦୁଃଖ ଓ ନକାରାତ୍ମକତାକୁ ଦୂର କରି ସୁଖ, ଶାନ୍ତି, ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ଏବଂ ଉତ୍ତମ ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ଭରିଦେଉ। ମା’ କାଳୀଙ୍କ ଅପାର କୃପାରୁ ଆପଣଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକଟି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ସଫଳ ହେଉ।
ଶୁଭ ଦୀପାବଳି!

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Happy to share that our KIIT and KISS weightlifters have won four medals—two Gold, one Silver and one Bronze—at the AIU East Zone Inter-University Weightlifting Championship 2026–27 in Meghalaya.

Heartiest congratulations to Mina Santa, Sadananda Bariha and Alisha Behera for their medals, and to all our athletes who have qualified for the All India Inter-University Games. Their hard work has made us proud. My thanks to their coaches and best wishes for the competitions ahead.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Deeply saddened by the passing of Padma Shri Dr Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, eminent neurosurgeon and first Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar. His contribution to medicine and the historic Jaga–Kalia surgery will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family. May his noble soul rest in peace.
Om Shanti.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Very happy to see the enthusiastic participation of young girls from different parts of Odisha in the Bhubaneswar auditions of the 26th KIIT Nanhipari Little Miss India, held at KIIT. After the completion of auditions across different states of India, the Odisha auditions were held in Bhubaneswar.

What started as a small initiative in Keonjhar in 2001 has today grown into a national-level platform for young girls to showcase their talent, intelligence, creativity and confidence. For me, Nanhipari has always been much more than a competition. It is an opportunity to encourage young girls, recognise their potential and give them the confidence to dream big and move forward in life.

I am happy that we are continuing this initiative for the 26th year, with scholarships worth ₹56 lakh for the winners. My heartiest congratulations to the winners selected from the Bhubaneswar auditions as well as from all other states. My blessings and best wishes to every participant. Every girl who comes forward to participate is a winner in her own way.

Looking forward to welcoming our young talents from across India for the semi-finals and grand finale at KIIT from 27th to 29th December 2026.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Heartiest birthday wishes to Smt Nita Ambani ji. Her dedication to education, sports and social service, and her love for India’s art and culture, have earned her immense love and respect. I am grateful for her love and affection towards our KIIT & KISS family.

On this special day, prayers from 40,000 pure souls of KISS, Bhubaneswar, for her good health, happiness and long life. May Mahaprabhu bless her to continue her noble work and bring happiness to many more lives.

@RIL_Updates @nmacc_india @ril_foundation