Subhechcha Ganguly 
In the quiet town of Paralakhemundi, decades ago, a young boy worked behind seven tables in a small hotel. He was barely 14, forced to abandon school after the seventh standard due to poverty. But even while cooking, cleaning, and sleeping under those very tables, he nurtured a dream that would one day transcend the boundaries of that cramped kitchen.
That boy — who bathed on railway platforms and relied on life itself as his teacher — would grow to become one of Odisha’s most impactful educationists and philanthropists: Dr. Tirupati Panigrahi, the visionary Founder & Chairman of the Hi-Tech Group of Institutions.
Deprived of traditional education, Dr. Panigrahi found his learning in the “University of Life.” At an age when most children are still under the guidance of parents and teachers, he was battling the realities of survival. But adversity became his greatest mentor. “I started my struggle at the age of 14. I worked in a hotel, but I was dreaming— even while mopping floors and cooking food—I was dreaming of owning institutions, of building something for others,” he recalls.
That fire never died. And five decades later, those dreams have taken form in the shape of 38 thriving institutions across Odisha and beyond — an educational empire that includes three medical colleges, four nursing colleges, a dental college, an engineering college, a school, a +2 science college, and various other centres of learning. These institutions now offer quality education to thousands of students, many of whom come from underprivileged, tribal, and Dalit communities.
It all began with a simple wish: to build a college in his mother’s name, after an earlier philanthropic attempt — a college in Kashinagar where he was a trustee — was taken over by the government. In 1992, that personal mission found its purpose with the establishment of Binodini Science College in Guma Block, named after his mother. Starting with 700 students from marginalised communities, the college has been running for over 30 years, fulfilling the dreams of hundreds every year.
“I couldn’t study, but I can give education to others — that is where I find peace,” he says.
What started as a modest effort has now grown into the Hi-Tech Group of Institutions, Eastern India’s largest privately-run educational network in the healthcare sector. His mission is clear: no child should be denied education due to poverty, and no dream should be silenced for lack of opportunity.
Education, however, was only the beginning. Seeing the need for accessible, ethical, and affordable healthcare, Dr. Panigrahi ventured into the medical space with the same passion. Today, he runs three multi-specialty hospitals — in Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, and Tirupati Balaji — with capacities of 750 beds in Bhubaneswar, 750 in Tirupati, and 650 in Rourkela, including around 400 ICU beds across them. These are not just hospitals; they are lifelines for thousands.
Rooted in his philosophy of “health first, payment later,” the hospitals operate with empathy, ensuring no one is turned away for want of money. Mobile medical units travel to deep rural areas, offering eye and dental care, general check-ups, and even surgeries. Over 15,000 spectacles have been distributed to the needy through his Poor Patient Treatment Fund, a personal initiative that he funds himself.
He brings an unusual but effective approach to running healthcare systems. “I question myself like a patient and answer like a doctor. That’s how I learn and that’s how I improve,” he shares. This approach has earned Hi-Tech Hospitals a reputation for patient care, innovation, and social responsibility.
His institutions are not just centres of education and healing; they are engines of empowerment. Thousands of people — from faculty to support staff, from rural workers to women seeking employment — have found livelihood and purpose through his initiatives. He has also mentored and supported young entrepreneurs with financial backing to start small businesses, creating a ripple effect of growth across the state. His vision is rooted in a belief that giving to society creates the path to true success.
“If you only think about taking, you will fail. But if you decide to give to society — to think about people — then you will always succeed,” he affirms.
For his unmatched contribution to education, healthcare, and social upliftment, Dr. Panigrahi has been conferred with three honorary doctorates.
His legacy is now being strengthened by his son, Mr. Rupesh Kumar Panigrahi (MLA of Paralakhemundi), who shares his father’s commitment to inclusive development. Together, they envision an Odisha where quality education, healthcare, and employment are accessible to all — especially the middle and lower-middle classes who often fall through the cracks.
Dr. Panigrahi’s message to the youth is both simple and powerful: “Dream big, work hard, and give back to society.” His own life is living proof that no hardship is too great, no dream too distant, and no mission too impossible — if one is driven by the fire within. “Education gave me purpose,” he often says. “But life taught me everything I know.”
From a boy under a table to the architect of hope for thousands, Dr. Tirupati Panigrahi has turned his personal struggle into a public legacy — one that continues to build dreams, heal lives, and uplift communities across India.
