Professor Dr. Satyanarayan Acharya Assumes Additional Responsibility as Acting Vice-Chancellor of Utkal University of Culture Amid New Academic Leadership

Puri:Aug 25 [UDN}: Professor Dr. Satyanarayan Acharya, Vice-Chancellor of the Odia University located at Sakhigopal in Puri district, has been entrusted with the additional responsibility of serving as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Utkal University of Culture in Bhubaneswar. He has been given this important responsibility in recognition of his long-standing experience and significant contributions to the fields of Odia language and literature, culture, Sanskrit, and the Indian knowledge tradition. Professor Acharya said that he considers the opportunity to shoulder this responsibility a blessing of the divine grace of Lord Jagannath.
Academic Qualifications and Administrative Experience
Professor Acharya holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Sanskrit Language and Literature, along with an M.A. in Puranic History. He also secured the first position at the all-India level in B.Ed. and was awarded a gold medal for his outstanding academic performance.
He began his teaching career in 1994 as a Guest Lecturer at the Shri Sadashiva Campus of the Central Sanskrit University. In 1995, he joined Agalpur Science College as a lecturer.
Over the course of his distinguished academic and administrative career, Professor Acharya has held several important positions at the Central Sanskrit University and the National Sanskrit University in Tirupati. His responsibilities have included serving as Head of the Department of Sahitya, Proctor, Chief Vigilance Officer, Dean, NSS Coordinator, Adviser to the Odisha Chair, and President of the Tirupati Utkal Parishad.
Promotion of Sanskrit, Research and Social Service
Professor Acharya is widely recognised for his efforts to promote Sanskrit across the country. Having participated in more than 1,500 Sanskrit conversational camps, over 45 teacher-training programmes and more than 300 seminars, he has earned recognition as a prominent promoter and practitioner of Sanskrit, popularly associated with the title “Sanskrit Express.”
Under his academic guidance, 28 students have completed M.Phil. degrees and 35 students have earned Ph.D. degrees.
He has also made significant contributions to the preservation and dissemination of traditional knowledge. In his native village of Natabarpur Shasan, he established a residential Veda-Shastra Pathashala, where 20 students are being provided free education from Class VI through +2 level.
Literary and Broadcasting Contributions
Professor Acharya has authored six books and 45 research papers. Since 2020, he has also been serving as a Sanskrit commentator during Doordarshan’s live telecast of the annual Rath Yatra, contributing to the wider dissemination of Sanskrit and Jagannath culture.
For his contributions to Sanskrit, literature, education and culture, he has received several honours, including “Abhinava Natyacharya,” “Utkal Sanskrit Sahitya Ratna,” and “Utkal Ratna.”
With the additional responsibility of heading Utkal University of Culture, Professor Acharya is expected to play an important role in strengthening the academic and cultural activities of both universities. He has expressed his commitment to discharging the responsibilities entrusted to him efficiently and has sought the cooperation and support of all stakeholders for the promotion and preservation of Odia and Vedic cultural traditions.