pujalin panda

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

5 more medals for India from our KIITians at the Asian Games in Japan today. I am so happy for them.

Vithya Ramraj won Bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles in 54.75 seconds. She had once equalled P. T. Usha’s national record; today, she broke it. What a moment for Vithya and for Indian athletics.

In the men’s javelin, Yashvir Singh won Silver with a personal best, and Rohit Yadav took Bronze. Murali Sreeshankar added a Silver in the men’s long jump. My congratulations to each of them.

With today’s two Silver and three Bronze medals, our KIITians have now won 16 medals for India at these Games. My best wishes to all our children still competing.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Heartiest congratulations to Mr Timur Turlov on being elected President of FIDE and to Mr Viswanathan Anand on continuing as Deputy President. It makes me especially happy to see Anand ji, who has made India proud for so many years, continue to serve chess in this way.

Mr Turlov has helped bring chess to thousands of schools, and Anand ji has long believed in what the game can offer children. This is close to my heart. Only last week, FIDE, KIIT and KISS signed an MoU to give more of our children the chance to learn chess.

I also want to thank Ms Dana Reizniece-Ozola. At the summit in Samarkand, attended by participants from over 120 FIDE member countries, she recalled her visit to KIIT and KISS. She shared how they stood out among the many places she has visited. I was touched that she remembered our children and spoke about her experience there.

My good wishes to Mr Turlov and Anand ji. I look forward to working with you both.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Heartiest congratulations, @imVkohli, on 15,000 ODI runs! Only Sachin Tendulkar had reached this mark before you, and you have done it in just 303 innings. You have given cricket lovers across India so many happy moments.
My good wishes to you for the matches ahead.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Five more medals from Japan today! I am so happy to see my KIITians win for India at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.

Sarvesh Kushare cleared 2.25m for Silver in the high jump, giving India a medal in this event after 56 years. Ancy Sojan jumped 6.53m for Silver in the long jump. Parul Chaudhary ran a national record 9:08.67 for Bronze in the steeplechase. Tejaswin Shankar won Bronze in the decathlon with 7,934 points, and Harita Bhadra took Bronze in the women’s 200m in 23.20 seconds.

Harita’s run brought back a special memory for me. In 2018, our Dutee Chand won Silver for India in the same event. She too clocked 23.20 seconds. Eight years later, another KIITian has won a medal for India in the women’s 200m.

All five of India’s athletics medals today came from our students. My KIITians have now won 11 medals at these Games—five Silver and six Bronze. My heartiest congratulations and best wishes to all of them.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Another proud moment for India and our KIIT & KISS family. My lovable KIITians Sawan Barwal, Tajinderpal Singh Toor and Prachi Choudhary have won three more medals for India—two Silver and one Bronze—at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Sawan ran the Men’s Marathon in 2:11:37, setting a new national record and bringing India a medal in this event after 44 years. Tajinderpal won Silver in the Men’s Shot Put with a throw of 20.64m. He has now won a medal at three Asian Games in a row, including Gold at the last two. Prachi won Bronze in the Women’s 400m, clocking 53.21 seconds.

Our KIITians have now won six medals for India at the 20th Asian Games—three Silver and three Bronze, across five individual events and the mixed 4×400m relay. I hope many more will follow.

My congratulations to all our medal winners, and my good wishes to those still competing in Japan.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

4 Special Honours at the 45th World Congress of Poets in Europe.

Happy and humbled to receive four special honours for my lifelong service to humanity through education and social work. These were conferred during the 45th World Congress of Poets in Europe —the ‘Mother Teresa Award’, ‘Professor Honoris Causa’ from AAB University College, ‘Recognition from the City of Peja’ and the ‘Medal of the President of the World Congress of Poets’. Our representative received the honours on my behalf.

The World Congress of Poets, held under the auspices of the World Academy of Arts and Culture, has brought poets and writers from across the world together since 1969. Its message of ‘Brotherhood and Peace through Poetry’ makes this international gathering very special.

Each honour means a lot to me. The Mother Teresa Award is especially close to my heart, as her life of compassion and service to the poor continues to inspire humanity. I have also tried, in my own small way, to give education, dignity and hope to those who need it most.

My sincere thanks to WAAC, WCP, AAB University College, the City of Peja and everyone associated with the Congress. I share this happiness with my entire KIIT, KISS & KIMS family.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Another medal for India and another moment of happiness for our KIIT & KISS family!

My lovable KIITian Baranica Elangovan has won the Bronze Medal in the Women’s Pole Vault at the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026, clearing 4.15m. This is India’s first-ever pole vault medal in the history of the Asian Games, making her achievement very special.

After breaking the national record twice earlier this year, Baranica has now created history for the country. Heartiest congratulations to her!

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

A proud day for India and for my lovable KIITians at the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026.

Our KIITian Seema Kumari has won the Bronze Medal for India in the Women’s 10,000m Race, clocking 32:50.05. India has also won the Silver Medal in the 4x400m Mixed Relay with a timing of 3:14.46. I am especially happy that five members of the Indian relay team—M. R. Poovamma, Vishal T. K., Vithya R., Jay Kumar and Kiran—are our KIITians.

My heartiest congratulations to all the medal winners, their coaches and support teams. With 54 KIIT student-athletes representing India at the Games, several more events are still to come.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Happy and humbled to receive two special honours from CEEMAN and FIDE on the same day. I am grateful that my lifelong service to humanity through education and social work has been recognised in this way. I share this happiness with my entire KIIT, KISS & KIMS family.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Another honour that gives me much happiness. Humbled to receive the ‘Education Philanthropic Award’ from FIDE, the International Chess Federation, at its Summit on Chess in Education in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 24 September 2026, with participants from over 120 member countries. The summit was held alongside the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad and Congress. My Dear Aditya received the award on my behalf.

I am also happy that FIDE, KIIT and KISS have signed an MoU to expand our Chess in Education initiatives. This follows the FIDE Global Conference on Chess in Society and Education, which we co-hosted at KIIT in January, and the teacher preparation programme held at KISS in August.

I have always wanted our children to have every opportunity to learn and grow through education and sports. This collaboration will help more of my lovable KIITians and KISSians learn and enjoy chess.

My sincere thanks to Interim President Mr Viswanathan Anand, Acting Chair Ms Dana Reizniece-Ozola and the entire FIDE family for this honour and for supporting our efforts to bring chess to more children.

[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 was deeply touched by the warm welcome I received in Milișăuți, Romania.

Despite the rain, so many little children waited to welcome the Honourable Ambassador of India to Romania and me. More than seven groups of little children presented beautiful dances, songs and music. Their performances touched my heart.

I feel deeply honoured to have received the Honorary Citizenship of Milișăuți and the “Key to the City of Bârlad”. The love and warmth I received in both cities will always remain close to my heart.

[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]

A very proud moment for our KIIT & KISS family as 54 of our student-athletes will represent India at the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Japan.

From 14 athletes at the last Asian Games in Hangzhou to 54 this time, this journey makes me very happy. Our KIITians and KISSians will represent the country across seven sports, with 45 athletes in Athletics alone.

I am especially happy that Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who won Gold for India at the previous Asian Games, has been chosen as one of India’s flagbearers for the Opening Ceremony. Along with him, many of our experienced and young athletes will once again carry the hopes of the nation.

It also gives me great joy to see nine athletes from Odisha, including young talents from our tribal communities, being part of the Indian contingent.

For many years, we have tried our best at KIIT & KISS to give our sportspersons the facilities, coaching and support they need to fulfil their dreams. Seeing 54 of them wearing the India jersey at one Asian Games is very special for me.

My best wishes to all our athletes. Give your best for India and make the country proud.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी को उनके 76वें जन्मदिन पर हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ।

आज का दिन मेरे 40,000 प्यारे @kissfoundation आदिवासी बच्चों के लिए सेवा और प्रार्थना का विशेष अवसर रहा। सुबह ओडिशा सरकार द्वारा आयोजित रक्तदान कार्यक्रम में लगभग 3,000 KIIT और KISS के बच्चों ने रक्तदान कर मानव सेवा में अपना योगदान दिया।

इसके बाद सभी 40,000 KISS आदिवासी बच्चों ने मिलकर माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी का जन्मदिन मनाया। बच्चों ने महाप्रभु जगन्नाथ के समक्ष पूजा-अर्चना की, दीप जलाए और उनके अच्छे स्वास्थ्य, सुख एवं दीर्घायु के लिए प्रार्थना की।

40,000 पवित्र हृदयों से निकली ये प्रार्थनाएँ और शुभकामनाएँ अपने आप में बहुत विशेष हैं। महाप्रभु जगन्नाथ माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी को सदैव स्वस्थ रखें और उन्हें देश की सेवा करते रहने की शक्ति प्रदान करें।

माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी को उनके 76वें जन्मदिन पर पुनः हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ।

जय जगन्नाथ।

@PMOIndia

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

ପବିତ୍ର ବିଶ୍ୱକର୍ମା ପୂଜା ଅବସରରେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ।

ସୃଷ୍ଟି ଓ ନିର୍ମାଣର ଦେବତା
ଭଗବାନ ବିଶ୍ୱକର୍ମାଙ୍କ ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦରେ
ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ଜୀବନରେ ସୁଖ, ସମୃଦ୍ଧି, ସଫଳତା
ଓ ଶାନ୍ତି ଭରିଯାଉ।

କର୍ମକ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ସଫଳତା ମିଳୁ,
ବ୍ୟବସାୟରେ ଉନ୍ନତି ଏବଂ ପରିବାରରେ ସୁଖ ଓ ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ବୃଦ୍ଧି ହେଉ ଏତିକି କାମନା।

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

Yesterday evening was very special as I joined the Ganesh Puja celebration at the Ambani family residence, Antilia, in Mumbai, on the kind invitation of Smt. Nita Ambani Ji.

In the midst of the Puja and so many guests, Nita Ji, Mukesh Ji and Anant Ji personally took time out to receive me and spend time with me. We had a warm interaction and discussed several things close to our hearts.

During the evening, I spent a few minutes interacting with Anant Ambani Ji and found him to be very warm, humble and wonderful, despite the stature he holds.

I have always admired their simplicity, warmth and respect for people. I am very grateful to the entire Ambani family for their love and respect for my work. The evening was special with the darshan and blessings of Ganpati Bappa.

[Achyuta Samanta @achyuta_samanta]

On the occasion of Engineers’ Day, my warm greetings to all engineers and engineering students.

Engineers play an important role in building our nation through their ideas, hard work and innovation.

I also pay my humble tribute to Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya on his birth anniversary, whose life continues to inspire generations.

My special wishes to all my lovable KIITians pursuing engineering. Keep learning, keep innovating and use your knowledge for the good of society and the nation.