Deepak Kumar Behera: The Saga of a Rustic Child

There is a general perception that an unruly boy would neither ever be able to build a successful career, nor lead a fulfilling life. But Deepak Kumar Behera who presently holds the position of the Vice Chancellor of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences(KISS) Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar has proved the narrative wrong. This small write-up unfolds Deepak’s journey of life.  

Deepak started his elementary schooling at Harihar U.P.

School, Kuarmunda, located in between Rourkela and Biramitrapur of Sundrargarh District. Every day he had to walk barefooted to reach school and every evening he used to study with the low luminosity of a kerosene lantern. On passing 5th class, he joined C.S.B. Zilla High School at Sambalpur where he studied from class 6th to 11thduring 1966-72. Throughout his school days, he was a student of Section-B. Deepak was always a back-bencher because of his height. He used to enjoy that sitting position for creating frequent disturbances in the class. As a below average student, Deepak had very little interest in studies. Though around 9.00am Deepak would leave home for school, yet he used to bunk classes frequently. He used to walk barefooted to cover the distance between his home and school. In order to save time, he used to walk through the paddy fields as a short-cut to reach school. Along with his friends he used to invade the nearest forest (Pati jungle) to pluck berries and fruits. On Friday, unfailingly Deepak would go to watch the matinee show of the new movies that were released either in Laksmi or Ashoka Talkies. With as little as just a Rupee all that he could afford to buy was, a ticket of the front row of seats. While seating there in the front row he had to keep moving his head from one side of the screen to the other, when either a horse was running or the heroine was dancing. 

Deepak’s father was working as a land estimator in the minor irrigation department, Govt. of Odisha.  With a low income, his father was rearing his eight children with great difficulty. His father was leading life of honesty and integrity. After his superannuation, he started practising homeopathy so as to meet the basic needs of the family. But, for perfect diagnosis and relentless practice, his father could become a renowned homeopath in Western Odisha. Deepak was profoundly influenced by his father, his role model.  

Deepak started his cricketing career as a bowler but gradually turned into a genuine all-rounder. He was a left arm off spin bowler and a middle order hard-hitting batsman. He was very popular for hitting sixes even against any mighty opponents. While he was a student of 10th class, some students of Lala Lajpat Rai Law College of Sambalpur invited him to play for their team in an exhibition match which was held at Bhawanipatna. He was instrumental in winning that match. He was working hard with all commitment, dedication, determination and will power to become a successful cricketer. His concentration and self-confidence helped him to be a frontline match winner for the local team that he was representing (MCC). In many crucial situations, he could completely turn the matches’ up-side down helping his team to win match after match.

The graph of Deepak’s professional career is worth noticing. Prior to joining KISS, he had served as the Vice Chancellor of Sambalpur University and Berhampur University. He was also appointed as the First Vice Chancellor of Rajendra University, Balangir. Deepak has the distinction of being the only Odia to become the Vice-Chancellor of four different universities. Deepak was a Fulbright Visiting Professor at California State University, Long Beach, USA. He was also a DAAD Visiting Guest Professor at University of Tübingen, Germany. He was the recipient of Carlos Chagas National Foundation Research Fellow, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, National Research Foundation Fellow, South Africa, European Union CISCA Fellow, Indo-French Academic Exchange Fellow, ICSSR, New Delhi, Indo-Israel Cultural and Educational Exchange Fellow, UGC, New Delhi. He was the recipient of the prestigious Sarat Chandra Roy Memorial Gold Medal for his outstanding contribution in the field of social anthropology in India by the Asiatic Society, Kolkata in the year 2016. Deepak is now the General President of United Indian Anthropology Forum (UIAF). He is the Series Editor of Contemporary Society: Tribal Studies (10-volume Set, Concept, New Delhi). Deepak has visited several foreign countries for more than 40 times in different academic connections. He has taught students in more than a dozen countries across the globe. Deepak has published 21 books/edited volumes and has authored 132 research articles published in reputed journals. He has successfully guided 26 Ph.D. scholars. Under his stewardship, Berhampur University became the first state-funded University to secure Grade-A by NAAC. He also played a crucial role in helping Sambalpur University to secure Grade-A by NAAC.

Deepak’s blissful and modest family life is a model. Deepak happily married to Mamata Mohapatra (Rita) and they are blessed with a daughter Sweta (Titli). When their daughter was born, every well-wisher of them suggested Deepak to look for a second issue so as to have a male child to maintain the patriline. However, he ignored the suggestions of his friends and relatives. Now his daughter Titli is married and living happily with her husband in Canada working as Senior Business Analyst with Infosys. Deepak’s wife Mamata is now serving as Headmistress in a Govt. High School, Sambalpur. 

The academic journey of Deepak began with a school located in a remote region of Odisha (Harihar UP School, Kuarmunda in the district of Sundergarh) while confronting with many failures/challenges finally ending up with an unprecedented success. He applied all the basic principles of cricket to academics and administration which helped him to excel in his professional life. The cricketing rules which he borrowed and applied in his profession are: (1) hard work, (2) concentration, (3) dedication, (4) determination, (5) patience (6) self-confidence and finally (7) enormous will power. The general perception that a naughty boy would never be able to build a successful career, nor would he ever lead a fulfilling life all together proved to be wrong in Deepak’s case. The life sketch of Deepak may inspire and motivate many youngsters of our generation who aspire to make their life sublime and beautiful. 

For the full life sketch of Deepak, please click the link given below:

Deepak Kumar Behera: Shifting Focus from Cricket to  Academics

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