Founder

Prof. Achyutananda Samanta after obtaining Master’s Degree in Chemistry in 1987 from Utkal University, started his career at 22 years of age. He has 30 years of teaching experience to his credit so far. A visionary social architect who embarked on a social development mission in 1992-1993 using education as the strategic medium to eradicate poverty and alienation from the surface of the earth, a goal envisaged by the global leaders as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2018, he was elected as a Member of Parliament to Rajya Sabha (Upper House). From 2019, he is Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha representing Kandhamal Constituency.

He is the Founder of KIIT (Deemed to be University) Bhubaneswar – a multi-discipline University with a current student strength of 30,000 students from all over India and 55 countries across the globe, KISS University and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS)– world’s largest fully-free residential KG-PG institute for 50,000 tribal children, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences– a medical college with 2500 bedded hospital and other allied institutes like Dental and Nursing Colleges; KIIT International School (with International Baccalaureate affiliation), Kadambini Media Pvt Limited (for promoting art, literature, and culture), ‘Kadambini‘ – a popular literary family magazine in Odia since 2000, ‘Kunikatha’ – a magazine for children since 2006, maker of several award-winning movies; and Kalinga TV Pvt. Ltd- 24×7 News Channel, promoter since the year 2000 of ‘NANHI PARI‘, one-of-its-kind-in-the-world Little Miss India Competition for identifying and nurturing young talents.

As a social reformer, he has been propagating “ART OF GIVING” (his Philosophy of Life), a concept aimed at bringing peace and happiness around the globe, “ART OF APPRECIATION” – spreading the message of the Art of Appreciation, “KANYA KIRAN” – A flagship Campaign to stop violence against women and girl child, “NEW MIND NEW DREAMS” – Spreading awareness of Education, Health, Human Rights, Sanitation and Hygiene in 30 districts of Odisha and providing “LIFESKILLS EDUCATION” to over 5 lakh adolescent boys and girls in Odisha.

Prof. Achyuta Samanta, who had lost his father at the age of four, before he could know the significance of the world, was pushed into the mire of abject poverty. Today, he is a legend, an iconic educationist, an emblem of service to humanity, a beacon of light for social transformation, the oppressed and the marginalized. With huge contributions in the field of education, health, art, culture, literature, rural development, social service and spiritualism his journey in life is not only awe-inspiring but soul-awakening for millions of poverty-stricken youths all over the globe. He has converted the remote village ‘Kalarabank’, Cuttack into a Smart Village and the entire Manpur Panchayat into a model Panchayat (cluster of villages). 

He has already started working to establish branches of KISS in different districts of Odisha. KISS-Delhi is successfully running since 2013. Besides providing around employment to 10,000 directly in KIIT and KISS, he has created over 1,00,000 indirect employment job opportunities and more than 100 successful entrepreneurs across the country. His hobby is spread peace and happiness.

Prof. Samanta has been working relentlessly for Zero Poverty, Zero Hunger and Zero Illiteracy.