Arup Sarkar

Assistant Professor in school of computer engineering at KIIT University Bhubaneswar.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Very happy to share that KIIT has been placed in the 501–550 band of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, announced at the World Academic Summit in Cape Town. We are now 4th in India, up from 5th last year, and remain No. 1 in Eastern India among all private and government universities.

KIIT is only 29 years old as an institution, since 1997, and 22 years old as a Deemed to be University, since 2004. For a young university from Odisha, this position among 2,297 universities from 118 countries is a matter of pride for all of us. It reminds me that slow and steady wins the race.

I thank our teachers, researchers, staff, students and alumni for all the work they have put in over the years. This happiness belongs to every one of them.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Happy and humbled to be honoured as ‘Leader of the Year’ at the 2026 CEEMAN Champions Awards. I am also happy to learn that I am the first Indian to receive this honour.

Our representative received the award on my behalf at the 34th CEEMAN Annual Conference in Bucharest, Romania, hosted by the Bucharest University of Economic Studies.

CEEMAN, the International Association for Management Development in Dynamic Societies, was founded in 1993. Based in Bled, Slovenia, it has around 180 members from about 50 countries working to improve management education and promote responsible leadership.

Its belief in combining excellence with relevance makes this recognition meaningful to me. It values how education and institutions improve lives, a purpose close to my heart through our work at KIIT, KISS, KIMS and Art of Giving.

My sincere thanks to CEEMAN, its President, Prof. Danica Purg, and the jury for this honour.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

I am very happy and deeply honoured to receive two special honours from two beautiful cities of Romania—Milișăuți and Bârlad.

I was conferred the Honorary Citizenship of Milișăuți. I was also honoured by the Municipality of Bârlad with the prestigious title, “Key to the City of Bârlad”, a very special honour, symbolising that the doors of Bârlad will always remain open to me.

It was a very special moment for me to receive these honours from the respected Mayors in the presence of the council members and many eminent people. I accept them with all humility as recognition of my lifelong service to education, humanity and society.

I am grateful to the Honourable Ambassador of India to Romania for being present on both occasions. My heartfelt thanks to the Mayors and all the council members of the municipalities of Milișăuți and Bârlad for their warmth, affection and respect.

I will always cherish the love and honour given to me by the people of Romania.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Very happy and honoured to welcome Padma Bhushan Param Pujya Didi Maa Sadhvi Ritambhara Ji to our KIIT & KISS campuses today.

Didi Maa spent a good amount of time at KISS, went around the campus, saw the facilities and interacted with our lovable KISSians. She told us that she had heard about KISS earlier, but seeing the work with her own eyes and at such a large scale made her very happy and surprised.

Her words touched me deeply because Didi Maa herself has been doing wonderful work for children, women and society through Vatsalyagram for many years.

When someone who has devoted her own life to service appreciates our small effort at KISS, it gives me great encouragement.

My sincere respect and gratitude to Param Pujya Didi Maa Ji for her blessings, kind words and affection for our children.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Very happy and proud that four of my lovable KISSians have been selected to represent India at the Asia Rugby Emirates U-18 Sevens 2026 in Qingdao, China.

For young players, an opportunity like this can become a turning point in life. I know how much discipline, hard work and patience goes behind reaching this stage. I wish all four of them a wonderful tournament. Enjoy the game, play your natural game and return with good memories and greater confidence.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

On the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami, I extend my warm greetings and good wishes to everyone.

May Lord Shri Krishna bless all of us with peace, happiness and strength, and guide us to do our duty with sincerity and a good heart.

Wishing everyone a blessed and joyful Janmashtami.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Coconut has always been very close to my heart. I was born and brought up with coconut as a part of my everyday life, and even today, I remain very fond of coconut, coconut water and different coconut products.

When my father passed away, I was only four years old. Among the few things he left behind for our family were 30–40 coconut trees. In those difficult days, these trees became a great support for us. We sold coconuts and brooms made from coconut leaves to manage our household expenses and support the education and other needs of our eight-member family. During cyclones, when we sometimes had hardly anything to eat, the fallen coconuts also became our food.

So, for me, coconut is not just a fruit or a tree. It is connected with my childhood, my struggle and my survival. Even today, I love consuming coconut and coconut water and continue to use coconut products in my daily life. Perhaps that childhood connection has remained with me all these years.

On World Coconut Day, my respect and good wishes to all coconut farmers and everyone whose life and livelihood are connected with this wonderful tree.

Happy World Coconut Day!

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

We were honoured to welcome Smt. Vijaya K. Rahatkar, Hon’ble Chairperson, National Commission for Women, to our KIIT & KISS campuses today.

She spent time at KISS, visited different facilities and interacted closely with our lovable KISSians. I was especially happy to see her engaging with our girl students, listening to them with affection and encouraging them to dream big and move ahead with confidence.

Her appreciation for KISS and for the confidence and aspirations of our children meant a lot to us.

I am grateful to Smt. Rahatkar Ji for her visit, her kind words and the affection she showed towards our children.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Highlights from today’s 80th Independence Day celebration at KISS with my 40,000 lovable KISSians.

Seeing all my children together with the Tiranga, celebrating with so much enthusiasm and pride, made me very happy. Their energy, discipline and love for the country made the occasion very special.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Today I am in Udaipur, Rajasthan, where I delivered the keynote address at 42 Degrees – Ken42’s Annual Higher Education Summit 2026 and shared some thoughts from my journey of building KIIT and KISS and my experience in higher education.

I also had a very meaningful conversation with Dr Anurag Batra Ji, Chairman, BW Businessworld, on higher education and how our universities should prepare themselves for the changing needs of young people and the future.

Many senior academicians, university leaders, policymakers and industry experts came together at the summit to discuss the future of higher education. I shared my experiences and exchanged ideas on how our institutions can do more for young people and for society.

For me, education has always been about creating good human beings and building institutions that can continue to serve society for generations. I was happy to share the KIIT-KISS journey with everyone present.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

I felt very happy to interact with the 28 students and 10 faculty members from the City University of New York (CUNY) who are here as part of our IndiaTrek initiative. They come from different parts of the world and are presently studying and teaching at CUNY. Some of them are also associated with the research centre at CUNY named after me.

After spending more than a week at KIIT and KISS, interacting closely with our students, faculty and staff and experiencing life on our campuses, they were very curious to meet and talk with me. I was very happy to hear their feelings. They said that after seeing the entire ambience, environment and infrastructure of KIIT and KISS with their own eyes, they were simply amazed. They also appreciated the love and hospitality they received during their stay.

Through IndiaTrek, every year we are also trying to take Odisha to the world. Our participants experience the culture, heritage, food, traditions and important tourist places of Odisha, along with visits to Delhi and the Taj Mahal in Agra. When they return to their countries, they carry with them not only memories of KIIT and KISS, but also a beautiful experience of Odisha and India.

This is what makes IndiaTrek very special for me. Young people from different countries come here, live together, learn together and understand our culture closely. I hope they will remain friends of KIIT, KISS, Odisha and India throughout their lives.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Ms Jyotirmayee Nayak is Odisha’s pride and, for us, a proud KIIT alumna. Her journey to the Grand Finale of Indian Idol Season 16 has given great happiness to the entire KIIT, KISS and KIMS family.

We were very happy to welcome and felicitate her during her homecoming at KIIT & KISS. As she moves towards the Grand Finale, I request all our students, staff, alumni and well-wishers to vote for her on the Sony LIV app and encourage others to support her as well.

Let us all come together and help our lovable KIITian bring the title home.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Heartiest congratulations to my lovable KIITian and Odisha’s pride, Jyotirmayee Nayak, on winning Indian Idol Season 16. By becoming the first Odia to win the title, she has created history and made the entire KIIT, KISS and KIMS family very happy.

Just a few days ago, when she visited KIIT & KISS before the Grand Finale, we welcomed her with great affection and gave her our blessings. Today, seeing her lift the trophy gives me immense happiness. Her talent, hard work and humble nature have brought her this success.

My heartfelt thanks to everyone in Odisha and across the country who supported and voted for her. May Mahaprabhu bless our lovable Jyotirmayee with many more achievements in her musical career.

[KIIT - Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology @KIITUniversity]

Heartiest congratulations to our alumna, Ms Jyotirmayee Nayak, on being crowned the winner of Indian Idol Season 16. With this remarkable achievement, she has become the first contestant from Odisha to win the prestigious title, making the entire state and the KIIT family immensely proud.

From KIIT to one of India’s biggest musical stages, Jyotirmayee’s journey reflects her exceptional talent, determination and deep passion for music. Her soulful voice has won hearts across the country and brought Odisha’s rich musical spirit into the national spotlight.

The entire KIIT family celebrates this historic achievement and wishes her greater success, recognition and many memorable milestones in the years ahead.

Congratulations, Jyotirmayee! You are Odisha’s pride and a proud KIITian.

[Arup Sarkar @ArupSarkar98]

Heartiest congratulations to our proud alumna Jyotirmayee Nayak. KIIT Alumna Wins Indian Idol, and her success proves that sincere effort and dedication always bring meaningful results. #KIITianJyotirmayee @KIITUniversity @achyuta_samanta

[Arup Sarkar @ArupSarkar98]

Heartiest congratulations to Jyotirmayee Nayak on her remarkable victory. KIIT Alumna Wins Indian Idol, and this achievement has filled all of us with immense happiness and pride. #KIITianJyotirmayee @KIITUniversity @achyuta_samanta

[Arup Sarkar @ArupSarkar98]

Heartiest congratulations to our alumna, Ms Jyotirmayee Nayak, on being crowned the winner of Indian Idol Season 16. With this remarkable achievement, she has become the first contestant from Odisha to win the prestigious title, making the entire state and the KIIT family proud

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Happy to share that KIIT School of Management (@ksombbsr ) has once again been recognised among India's finest, securing the 2nd Rank in India and emerging as the No. 1 BBA Institution in Eastern India in the TIMES BBA Education Ranking Survey 2026.

This recognition belongs to our students whose dreams inspire us, our dedicated faculty and staff whose commitment never wavers, our parents and alumni who continue to place their trust in us, and every well-wisher who has been a part of the KIIT family.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

On the auspicious occasion of Bahuda Yatra, I offer my prayers to Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra as they begin their return journey to Srimandir from Shri Gundicha Temple.
May Mahaprabhu bless everyone with peace, happiness and good health.
Jai Jagannath.