Suparjya swain 
Rourkela, Odisha: The Steel City of Odisha witnessed a landmark evening on September 27, 2025, when the State Business Leadership Awards and Resurgent Rourkela Conclave was hosted at the Mayfair World Cup Hockey Village. Organised by Interview Times under the guidance and leadership of its Founder and House Editor Dr. Dibyajit Sahu, the event combined three defining moments: a high-powered panel discussion, the inauguration of a new publication, and the prestigious awards ceremony. With the theme “Think Odisha, Think Rourkela” and “Resurgent Rourkela – Inspiration Beyond Steel,” the event was not just a celebration but a bold declaration of the city’s evolving identity.
The choice of Rourkela as the venue was itself symbolic. Long known as a city forged in steel, born of Nehruvian planning and German collaboration in the 1950s, Rourkela has steadily expanded beyond its industrial roots. Today, with the ₹30,000 crore expansion of the Rourkela Steel Plant underway, the rise of its IT and research ecosystem, and rapid urban transformation through the Smart City program, Rourkela represents the possibilities of Odisha’s future. By bringing the event here, Interview Times signaled its belief that the city is poised to emerge not only as an industrial hub but also as a center for education, technology, and entrepreneurship—a counterweight to Bhubaneswar and a vital axis of Odisha’s growth story.
The aim of the event was twofold: to honor business leaders who have contributed significantly to Odisha’s development, and to create a forum where ideas about the state’s future could be debated, especially how Rourkela can transform itself into a hub of both industry and education. It was also an effort to bridge policy, academia, and enterprise on a single stage, inspiring collaboration and sparking dialogue on how the Steel City can redefine its trajectory in the decades to come.
The conclave was graced by an exceptional line-up of dignitaries. Among them were Prof. Karanam Umamaheshwar Rao, Director of NIT Rourkela, Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Founding Director of IIM Sambalpur, and Mr. Arun Kumar Sahu, India’s Ambassador to Bulgaria. They were joined by senior industry figures such as Mr. Vivek Srivastava, Managing Director of Talcher Fertilizers Limited, Mr. Nimish Gadodia, Chairman of Nav Durga Group, Mr. Brij Mohan Agarwal, National Chairman of CAIT, Dr. Monu Pattanayak, Director of Shanti Memorial Hospital & IVF Centre, Mr. Rajesh Gadodia, Founder of Scan Group of Industries, Shri Ganesh Prasad Bagaria, CMD of Grihasthi Udyog, Mr. Subrata Pattnaik, industrialist, Mr. T.P. Mohanty, mine owner, and Mr. Sunil Kayal of Gaylords Group. The sheer diversity of the guest list reflected the wide net the event cast across academia, diplomacy, healthcare, industry, and entrepreneurship.
The panel discussion formed the intellectual core of the evening. Titled “Resurgent Rourkela: From Steel City to a Hub of Industry and Education,” it featured Mr. Arun Kumar Sahu and Prof. Karanam Umamaheshwar Rao, who explored how Rourkela can reposition itself in Odisha’s growth narrative. Mr. Sahu spoke about the global models of city transformation he had witnessed as a diplomat, urging Odisha to imagine Rourkela as a parallel epicenter of development alongside Bhubaneswar. Prof. Rao highlighted how education and research can become the city’s engine of change, especially through NIT Rourkela’s innovations and industry-academia collaborations. Together, they articulated a vision of a city where smokestacks and classrooms coexist, where steel and silicon fuel a balanced, future-ready economy.
Another highlight was the inauguration of the Interview Times Magazine, September Edition by the dignitaries, adding a literary and cultural dimension to the evening. This symbolic launch underscored the role of media, ideas, and storytelling in shaping public consciousness and ensuring that the conversations begun at such gatherings are carried forward into the wider society.
The heart of the event was the State Business Leadership Awards 2025, instituted and presented by Interview Times. Entrepreneurs, changemakers, and professionals from diverse fields were recognized for their contributions to Odisha’s industrial, economic, and social fabric. By celebrating both local entrepreneurs and national figures, the awards created a sense of pride among participants and reinforced the idea that Odisha’s business ecosystem is maturing rapidly. Each award represented not just individual achievement, but also the collective aspiration of the state to align entrepreneurship with inclusive growth.
Speakers at the conclave repeatedly emphasized the importance of such events. They noted that while infrastructure and policy are crucial, equally vital is the creation of spaces where leaders from different walks of life can meet, exchange ideas, and inspire the next generation. “Such gatherings are eye-openers for the youth,” one participant observed, highlighting how dialogue and recognition can fuel ambition, innovation, and collaboration.
The evening also carried powerful cultural undertones. Mr. Sahu, in his remarks, referenced the international resonance of Odisha’s folk classic Rangabati, reminding the audience that Rourkela is more than an industrial township—it is also a custodian of Odisha’s cultural heritage with global appeal. This blend of steel, scholarship, and song symbolized the layered identity of the city and its people.
As the lights dimmed at Mayfair Hockey Village, what lingered was not just the celebration of achievement but the sense of a new beginning. Rourkela, once seen only as a steel outpost, now stands reimagined as a city of possibilities—where factories and classrooms, entrepreneurs and diplomats, industry and culture come together to script a brighter tomorrow.
