suparjya swain 
FEATURE: In the lush green heartland of Odisha, where mornings rise with the scent of earth and birdsong echoes through the trees, the story of Prof. (Dr.) Dipak Kumar Sahoo begins—not as a tale of sudden glory, but of quiet, persistent ascent. From the modest village of Adipura in Dhenkanal district, where life moved to the rhythms of nature and the values of a close-knit rural community, a young boy nurtured dreams far larger than his surroundings. Those early years, spent among farmers, teachers, and humble folk, instilled in him a reverence for honesty, resilience, and the quiet power of discipline.
What sets him apart is not just the milestones he has achieved, but the mindset he brings to them. A lifelong learner, reformer, and mentor, he views leadership as a moral responsibility—rooted in compassion, discipline, and devotion to higher ideals.
Raised in a modest household, he was imbued early on with the values of learning and self-restraint. His mother, Manorama, a nurturing homemaker; his late father, Dasarathi—a former Odisha police officer and Registrar of the Police Training College in Angul; his uncle Nandakishore, a high school teacher; and a constellation of educators, especially Prof. S.C. Mishra, Prof. Babu T. Jose, and Prof. Benny Mathews Abraham—all created an atmosphere where knowledge was revered despite limited means. This foundation propelled him far beyond what he could have imagined. Though naturally drawn to literature, poetry, and the arts, societal expectations and family aspirations guided him toward science, engineering, and law. It proved not a compromise, but a defining turn—blending logic with introspection and engineering with ethics.
His academic brilliance became evident early. After attending local schools, he won the prestigious National Rural Talent Scholarship, allowing him to study at Marthapur High School and later Angul High School. Another milestone followed—the National Scholarship—which enabled him to pursue Civil Engineering at CET (now OUTR), Bhubaneswar. Even amid equations and technical rigor, his passion for writing endured. At CET, he co-founded The Engineering Herald, the institute’s first student magazine, giving voice to the creative spirit of budding engineers.
Graduating in 1987, he entered the industrial world through Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd. (FACT)—India’s first fertilizer company and a central PSU. Over the next several years, he led critical infrastructure projects across Mumbai, Gujarat, Cochin, and Kerala. Whether constructing petrochemical plants for GNFC, IOCL, HPCL, BPCL, Birla Copper, and Hindustan Zinc; building facilities for SAIL and ONGC; railway stations for MTP; or highways for the Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala—he honed his expertise in engineering execution, leadership, and precision under pressure.
Yet amid construction deadlines and blueprints, a quiet inner calling persisted—the pull of academia. In 2001, he answered that call, joining the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) as a Reader in the Department of Safety and Fire Engineering. This transition was not merely a change in career—it was a return to his core self.
Soon after, he pursued a PhD in Structural Engineering at IIT Roorkee under the guidance of Prof. Bhupinder Singh and Prof. Pradeep Bhargava, completing the rigorous program in just three years—a testament to his discipline and intellectual depth. Over the next two decades in Kerala, he rose through the academic ranks, becoming Head of the Department of Safety and Fire Engineering (twice), a Senate member at CUSAT, and eventually Principal of the School of Engineering. He became known not only for his technical acumen but also for his mentorship, institutional development, and commitment to student welfare.
In 2025, his return to Odisha as Vice Chancellor of VSSUT marked a homecoming—both professional and spiritual. To him, Sambalpur is more than a city; it is “Matrunagari” and “Pratichi Srikhetra,” and the sacredness of this land infuses his leadership with divine purpose. He sees the role not as an appointment, but as a command from the divine mother—to serve humanity and help build a university that nurtures not only skilled engineers but also responsible, patriotic, and value-driven citizens. His vision aligns deeply with the dreams of Honourable Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhanji and Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji to build a self-reliant, developed Bharat.
Under his stewardship, VSSUT is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. He believes education must extend beyond classrooms and curriculums to nurture the whole human being. From introducing yoga and de-addiction programs to promoting cultural events and student wellness initiatives, he is cultivating a campus ecosystem that prioritizes mental health, emotional resilience, and ethical grounding.
Reformative discipline, he asserts, is central to institutional success. A university, in his view, must be a sanctuary—ensuring not just intellectual development but also the emotional and physical safety of students. In keeping with the spirit of the National Education Policy, he has championed the use of regional languages in technical education. Translating engineering materials into Odia/Sambalpuri is not symbolic—it is a powerful move toward inclusion, empowering rural students to thrive without linguistic barriers.
Despite his accomplishments, he remains profoundly humble. “I haven’t achieved anything monumental. I am a humble servant of the public,” he often says. It is this humility that shapes every decision—from curriculum reforms to student mentorship. His leadership is grounded not in authority, but in authenticity.
At the heart of his life lies a deeply rooted personal philosophy of humility and service. He credits his wife, Soubhagini—a mathematics postgraduate from Utkal University—as the quiet force behind his journey. Together, they have raised their children, Dripta (a surgeon) and Divyaroop (a computer engineer), with the same values of empathy, discipline, and balance that define their family.
His message to students is both timeless and timely: “You are more intelligent than we ever were. But don’t forget your roots. Read the Ramayana and Mahabharata—or any religious scripture—not as mythology, but as life-guiding texts to love and serve humanity.” His practical advice rings true: “The years from Class 11 to your undergraduate degree will define you. Don’t waste them. Be disciplined, stay focused, and strive to be good human beings—with a strong sense of duty, sacrifice, and love for your mother and motherland.”
Looking ahead, he envisions VSSUT not merely as a hub of technical excellence, but as a cradle for future leaders—individuals who balance intellect with empathy, innovation with values, and ambition with service. His legacy, still in the making, promises to fuse tradition with transformation, and spirit with scholarship.
In a world yearning for purposeful leadership, his journey is a powerful reminder: when life is led with humility, clarity, and a spirit of service, the impact is not just institutional—it is generational.
