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.