Pradeep Mahapatra

Monday, November 2, 2015

Pradeep Mahapatra ((Brief Profile / Media)

Dr Mahapatra spent almost a decade as a professional journalist in Odisha editing newspapers and magazines during 1980s. Worked for a feature film, several television documentaries and social marketing media campaigns.

Dr Mahapatra provided media support for planning and execution of developmental campaigns organised by both non-governmental and governmental agencies in the region for over 25 years. He extended expertise for literacy campaigns organised by Peoples Rural Education Movement (PREM) during 1988-90 and by Bhanja Sakhyarata Parisad, promoted by Ganjam District administration during 1993-96. He designed and produced publicity material for one of the earliest HIV-AIDS campaigns implemented in Odisha state being organised by South Odisha Voluntary Association, Koraput in 1997. His association with PREM enabled him to provide consultation for campaigns such as child birth registration between 2001-05, anti tobacco between 2002-03, micro-health insurance between 2003-05. and vocational training project designed for providing livelihood development skills to 10,000 members of marginalised communities in Ganjam, Gajapati, Kondhamal, Rayagada and Puri District of Odisha being implemented by PREM in association with AXIS Bank Foundation between 2011 - 2016.

Dr Mahapatra was instrumental in bringing out Gram Vikas Samachar, a development focused house journal in Odia published by Gram Vikas for 12 years between 1998-2011 and Brahmapur Poura Samachar, a house journal published by Berhampur Municipality for 2 years between 1993-95. He was also entrusted for publication of 4 volumes of PREM-PLAN Swasthy Suchana (2007-09), 6 issues of Odisha Adivasi Samachar (2004-05) and several issues of wall newspaper for children Khabara (1998-2000) brought out by PREM.

His future plans include spread of media literacy encouraging practice of citizen journalism in Odisha State, India.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Dr Pradeep Mahapatra (Brief Profile / Academic)

Dr Pradeep Mahapatra, holds master’s degrees in English Literature, Communication and Ph.D in Odia Literature. He retired as the Head of the Department of Post Graduate Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, Berhampur University in October 2015.

Dr Mahapatra joined as a regular faculty member at Berhampur University in 1990. He also lectured twice during academic sessions 1979-80 and 1997-98 in journalism classes at the University. He had mentored about 700 post-graduate media students during 27 years of teaching carrier. Two scholars were awarded Ph.D. under his supervision.

Dr Mahapatra’s area of interest and research concentrate on Journalism in Odia, a language spoken by over 400,00,000 people in eastern India, which is recognised as a classical language by Government of India. His Ph.D. thesis chronicles the birth and growth of Odia journalism. It is published by Berhampur University as a book.

Dr Mahapatra taught subjects such as print media editing, radio communication, internet journalism, media laws and ethics, mass-communication research, international and inter-cultural communication over the years in his teaching career.

He has authored one book in English, 2 books in Odia, co-authored 3 books on development studies and edited 3 books in Odia language and culture apart from 8 books in regional heritage, all in Odia. His column Berhampur Diary appeared in local daily and weekly newspapers during past three decades between 1982 and 2013, is being published as a blog. ‘Historical Foundations of Berhampur City’ a book of 400 pages in Odia edited by him was published in 1994.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Dr Pradeep Mahapatra (Brief Profile / General)

Dr Pradeep Chandra Mahapatra is born and brought-up at Berhampur, a south-eastern city of 4,00,000 population situated in Odisha State, India at a distance of 15 kms from Bay of Bengal. The City is about 165 kms away from Bhubaneswar, state capital of Odisha and 250 kms away from Visakhapatnam, the port city of Andhra Pradesh. It is connected by East-Coast Railways and highways NH-16 (Chenni-Kolkata) and NH-59 (Gopalpur Port-Raipur). Berhampur is the administrative headquarters of South Odisha, which also claims to be social, cultural, and political epic-center of the region.

Dr Mahapatra was born on 24^th October 1955. His father Ramakrushna Mahapatra was a civil servant and mother Annapura Mahapatra a home maker. Dr Mahapatra had 6 siblings, 3 brothers and 3 sisters. His ancestors belong to a neighbourhood rural town Purushottampur on the banks of river Rushikulya, 25 kms away from Berhampur.

Dr Mahapatra married Dr(Mrs) Manoj Manjari Patnaik in 1985. Dr Patnaik taught at Post Graduate Department of Law, Berhampur University. She was the former Dean and Head of the Department of Law.

Dr Mahapatra attended his early school education at Government Middle English School (1962-63) and Military Lines Municipal Boys Upper Primary School (1963-65). He appeared High School Certificate examination from Queen of the Missions High School in 1971. After pursuing studies for Pre-University Examination at Khollikote College, Berhampur in 1972, qualified the First year Science Examination at Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati College, Paralakhemundi in 1973, Completed B.A. in 1975 and M.A. (English) in 1977 at Khollikote College, Berhampur. After completing studies for the degree of Bachelors in Journalism & Mass Communication (1978) at Post Graduate Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, Berhampur University received Master of Science (Communication) degree at Bangalore University in 1981. Dr Mahapatra was awarded Ph.D. in Odia for his thesis on ‘Role of Utkal Dipika in Development of Odia Journalism’ by Berhampur University in 1998.

Dr Mahapatra was influenced by his family-elders who had achievement in the field of literature and culture. His eldest brother Ganesh Mahapatra practiced film journalism, published novels, thrillers and directed feature films and documentaries. Second brother Udaya Mahapatra edited a literary journal and authored several novels. Third brother Ramesh Mahapatra published poems and short stories during his student career. Moreover Dr Mahapatra’s grandfather Pindika Mahapatra pioneered theater activities during late nineteenth century in Ganjam District.

Dr Mahapatra lives in his ancestral home at Bhimarao Peta, Bhapur Bazar, Berhampur.