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About Me
I was born and brought up in a small and beautiful village named Kesol, now in the Kendrapara District of Orissa. My colourful childhood was spent here. My live participation in all facets of rural life and culture has made me extremely sensitive to the problems of development communication and adult education.
After passing my Middle English Examination with Distinction, I moved to Kendrapara, from where I passed my Matriculation Examination in 1946. Then I came to Cuttack and passed my Intermediate in Science Examination from the Stewart Science College in the First Division. I passed my B.Sc.(Hons.) Examination with Honours in Physics from the Utkal University.
I studied at the Institute of Radiophysics, University of Calcutta and got my M.Sc. Degree in Radiophysics and Electronics in 1953. On a Ford Foundation Fellowship, I studied Audio-Visual Education at the University of London Institute of Education, leading to a Diploma in the Theory and Practice of Audio-Visual Aids.
On the same Fellowship, I studied at the International Agricultural Study Centre, Wageningen, Holland, and at the International People’s College, Elsinore, Denmark. In 1966, on a Fulbright Scholarship, I studied Community Organisation and Youth Work at the Case-Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
I am a member of seven professional institutions and organisations, four of which are international.
Presently I am an International Consultant in Education and Communication. During 1984 and 1993, I was a Professor at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. I was the Founder-Resident Director of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal, Orissa. I am the Adviser to the Executive Committee of the Bajiraut Chhatravas, a Gandhian institution of national repute, situated at Angul, Orissa. The Bajiraut Chhatravas was established on 11 May 1946 by my mother-in-law, the late Malati Choudhuru, and my father-in-law, the late Nabakrushna Choudhuri, Gandhian Scholar and former Chief Minister of Orisssa, to cater to the educational needs of the children of freedom fighters. Due to a changed societal demand, there are now 180 children, coming from the backward and disadvantaged communities from all over Orissa, who live at the Chhatravas and study in the neighbouring schools, including its own campus school. I was the UNESCO Adviser (Indonesia) and UNICEF Consultant (Afghanistan). I received the Nehru Literacy Award ( 1992); and the Sardar Patel Literacy Award ( 2000). I was a Ford Foundation Fellow (1963-64) and Fulbright Scholar( 1966 ) . I was also a Rotary Foundation Fellow (Jamaica) (1984). I can read, write and speak Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Malay.
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Interests
Choral Singing, Photography, Travelling, Writing, Editing and Public Speaking. I love to act in plays, direct and produce them. These days I am a bit of a Social Activist working in the area of Child Rights.
I have three books in English, several books in Oriya, and many papers and articles to my credit. The three English Books are : A Handbook of Audio-Visual Aids (Kitab Mahal, Delhi), Adult Education- Some Reflections (Indian Adult Education Association, New Delhi.) and People and Places ( Phoenix International Publishers, New Delhi. I collect and sing mass songs and folk songs in various Indian languages. I got inspiration for choral singing from Bhupen Hazarika and Ruma Guhathakurta. Bhupen Hazarika’s ’’ Ami Ek Jajabar ’’ ( I am a rootless traveller. Wherever I go, I am received with love and affection. My head bows down with respect and reverence to these people, and I recollect Gurudev Tagore’s ’’ Thou hast made me known to friends whom I knew not.’’ |