Suparjya swain 
FEATURE: The moment Santosh Kumar Biswal steps into a slum, little feet come pattering from every direction. Tiny hands reach out, eyes light up, and laughter fills the air. They don’t come running for toys or sweets — they come because his presence feels safe, because he listens, and because he brings with him a promise of something better. In places where hope is often in short supply, Santosh has become a familiar face and a steady hand, building libraries, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and planting seeds — in the earth and in the hearts of children. Through the Smile Forever Foundation, he has turned kindness into a way of life, proving that real change grows from small, consistent acts of compassion.
Born and raised in Rourkela, Santosh’s path seemed destined for academia and corporate life. He completed his schooling and higher secondary education at Deepika English Medium School, earned a commerce degree from Municipal College, and pursued his MBA from IMS Ghaziabad. Today, while working toward his PhD, he serves as an Assistant Professor at RIMS and is also a certified fitness trainer. But his true calling emerged in 2013, when he began helping underprivileged children access education.
What started as a small group of friends sponsoring school fees and basic needs evolved into a registered NGO in 2015. Guided by the belief that “the smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention,” Smile Forever Foundation was officially set up in December 2018 to bridge the gap between the “haves” and “have-nots” through education, healthcare, environmental care, and hunger eradication.
One of its most transformative initiatives is the Slum Library — vibrant learning spaces in Odisha’s most underserved communities. More than just rooms filled with books, these spaces offer children a place to dream, learn, and connect. They also double as adult literacy centres, breaking cycles of illiteracy across generations. The Mu Bhi School Jibi programme extends this vision further, embracing 175 slum children and providing them with meals, educational materials, and transportation — removing the barriers that keep them from classrooms.
Long before “food security” became a buzzword, Santosh and his team were ensuring that the most vulnerable didn’t go to bed hungry. For over two years, 55 mentally and physically challenged homeless individuals have been served fresh meals daily. During the COVID-19 lockdown, the Foundation scaled up to feed 200 people every day, turning a slogan — “No one sleeps hungry” — into a lived reality.
Beyond food and books, Smile Forever runs blood donation drives for patients with Thalassemia, haemophilia, and other blood disorders, organizes health awareness camps in remote slums, and provides timely medical assistance. Environmental care is woven into its ethos through Mission One Man, One Tree, urging individuals to plant and nurture a tree at every stage of life as a personal legacy of care for the planet.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the Foundation mobilized rapidly — distributing 2,500 sanitizers, thousands of masks, and month-long ration kits to 1,500 families. They helped migrant workers return home, offered them food and travel assistance, and even secured employment opportunities for some in local businesses. Temporary quarantine facilities were set up in slums, alongside campaigns to combat misinformation about the virus.
For Santosh, recognition is never the goal, but there have been moments of immense pride. In 2019, he spearheaded the creation of a 17-kilometer-long national flag in Rourkela to promote patriotism. Post-pandemic, the Foundation has achieved feats like creating the world’s largest earthen lamp, the biggest laddu weighing 12.5 tons, and now working on an ambitious 235-kg bow made of 16 kg of gold, engraved with the names of India’s martyrs. This extraordinary creation will tour schools and colleges across Odisha before making its way to the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, serving as a symbol of honour and remembrance.
Even with these grand achievements, Santosh remains grounded. Funding continues to be a challenge, with 70-80% of expenses still coming from his own pocket. Yet his commitment never wavers. “We don’t just enroll kids in government schools; we make sure they have tuition support, food, and a safe environment to thrive,” he says.
For Santosh, social service is personal. “It starts at home. If you can help, even in a small way, do it,” he urges. That philosophy has shaped Smile Forever into not just an organisation, but a promise — a promise to stand with the marginalized, to fight for dignity, and to restore hope where it has been lost.
In just a few years, the Foundation’s work has touched thousands of lives, creating ripples of change across Odisha. And for Santosh Kumar Biswal, the journey is far from over. With unwavering dedication, he continues to build his mission — one smile, one meal, one book, and one tree at a time. Because in his world, kindness isn’t just an act. It’s a way of life.
