Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday, 2 June 2026 paid heartfelt tribute to eminent botanist, scientist, and educationist Professor Pranakrushna Parija on his death anniversary, honouring the scholar's lasting contributions to scientific research and higher education in Odisha.

Posting in Odia on X, Chief Minister Majhi wrote: 'ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ବୈଜ୍ଞାନିକ ତଥା ଶିକ୍ଷାବିତ ପ୍ରଫେସର ପ୍ରାଣକୃଷ୍ଣ ପରିଜାଙ୍କ ପୁଣ୍ୟତିଥିରେ ଭକ୍ତିପୂତ ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି।' — 'Devout tributes on the death anniversary of distinguished scientist and educationist Professor Pranakrushna Parija.' He added that Parija's 'unparalleled contributions to scientific research and the promotion of higher education in Odisha will forever remain a source of inspiration for us.'

Context

Professor Pranakrushna Parija was one of post-independence Odisha's most celebrated academic figures — a botanist of national repute who also served as the first Vice-Chancellor of Utkal University, the state's oldest university, established in 1943. His leadership helped shape the institutional framework for higher education and scientific inquiry in the state during a formative period for modern India.

His death anniversary is observed each year by academics, researchers, and public figures in Odisha as an occasion to reflect on the legacy of Odia pioneers in science and education.

Policy Backdrop

The tribute comes against the backdrop of a broader state-level emphasis on expanding access to higher education and promoting scientific temper in Odisha. The mid-20th century expansion of higher education in the state — including the founding of Utkal University and subsequent state institutions — was built significantly on the work of educationists such as Parija.

Chief Minister Majhi, who took office in 2024, has regularly used public platforms to commemorate Odia icons in science, culture, and education, positioning such figures as touchstones for the state's development ambitions.

Stakeholders and Impact

The tribute resonates most directly with Odisha's academic community — university faculty, researchers, and students — for whom Parija represents a foundational figure in the state's intellectual history. Commemorating such figures publicly also reinforces the government's stated commitment to scientific education and research as pillars of state progress.

Broader civil society in Odisha, particularly those engaged with the history of Odia identity and institution-building, regards anniversaries like this as culturally significant moments of collective memory.

What's Next

State-level commemorative events, academic seminars, or the announcement of research chairs or memorials in Professor Parija's name are possibilities that may follow such high-profile public recognition by the Chief Minister. Observers of Odisha's higher education policy will also watch upcoming assembly sessions for any education budget announcements that could carry forward the legacy of early institution-builders the state is honouring.