Kamalakanta Jena

Early life and education

Kamalakanta Jena was born on 25 April 1971 in the village Januganj in the Balasore district in the state of Odisha, India. He graduated from the Januganj M. E. School in the year 1983 with an 'O’ grade and stood 4th in Balasore Circle. He completed his matriculation from Remuna High School in Remuna, Balasore in 1986. He was in the First division, securing a record mark (88%) in second language English in his H.S.C. Examination. He stood 3rd in India National Mathematical Olympiad (Regional Level) Examination in 1987 while continuing with +2 Science at F. M. College, Balasore. He received his graduation degree from F. M. College, Balasore under Utkal University in the year 1991 in Physics with honours.

Jena was an MSc student in the P. G. Department of Physics at the Utkal University campus in Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar during the years 1991 through 1993. After successful completion of MSc in Physics with First class (Second position in Utkal University), he became a Junior Research Fellow in the Regional Research LaboratoryBinhubaneswar. His proficiency as a meritorious student can be further evidenced from his success in qualifying IIT – GATE and CSIR – NET.

Profession

Sri Jena, with keen interest in teaching, joined OES (Orissa Education Service) under the Department of Higher Education, Orissa at the age of 28 years. He started his teaching career at the Department of Physics, Government College in Sundargarh, Orissa on 14 May 1999. He served for about 15 years at the Government College, Sundargarh and at the Government Women's Junior College in Sundargarh. Currently, he is working with the Department of Physics, Bhadrak Jr/Auto College in Bhadrak, Orissa (since 26 November 2013).

Writing career

Sri Jena's contributions and achievements are of a superlative nature. it is said that his achievements and accomplishments in the dissemination of scientific culture and mindset are too many to enumerate.

Kamalakanta Jena, a distinguished academician in the field of Physics, is better known as a highly acclaimed writer of science articles and books throughout the state of Orissa and beyond. He started reporting in 1986 at the age of 15 years for 'The Chalachitra Jagat', one of the leading Cine Magazine published from Cuttack. His first article was published in the esteemed Oriya daily 'The Sambad' on 8 December 1991. His articles have been published in various magazines and journals, including The Sambad, The Prajatantra, The Samaja, The Samaya, The Dharitri, The Pragativadi, Bigyanaloka (Orissa Bigyan Prachar Samiti), Sansar, Meena Bazar, Nandan Kanan, Shisulekha, Sishu Prativa, Pourusha, Yojana, Akshay Urja, NBT Bulletin, Emerging Science, The Statesman, Science Reporter (NISCAIR) etc. Sri Jena, who is a Life Member of Orissa Bigyan Academy, is an eminent contributor to the flagship magazines of the Academy – "Bigyan Academy" and "Science Horizon". Despite his young age, he has more than 700 articles to his credit, published in almost all magazines and newspapers of repute in the state.

Sri Jena is a celebrated speaker on Popular Science in Radio Talk Programmes. His science talks aired in radio have been highly appreciated by the people. He worked as Editor of "The South", the annual magazine of South Hostel, F. M. College, Balasore, Orissa for the academic year 1990–91. He worked as Editor of The Vanisourav, the annual magazine of Godavarish Hostel, Utkal University Campus, Bhubaneswar for the academic year 1992–93. For the time being, he is working as Associate Editor, DIGBALAYA, Orissa Physical Society, Bhubaneswar. He represented Orissa Chapter as a prominent Science Communicator in the 99th Indian Science Congress of 2012 held in KIIT University, Bhubaneswar.

Not only in Science, Sri Jena is also a noted humour writer. Many of his humour/satirical articles have been published in Haribol, Rabibara Samaja, Dharitri Chhutidina, Sambad, Byangabaani, Manorama, Tikie Hasa, Pragatibaadi, Lavanya, Teerataranga, Parichaya, Time Pass, Byanga Darabar etc. He is known as ADHAPOKA in the field of humours.

Books Written

Popular Science Books

01. Kathaare Kathaare Bigyan (Pragati, Sundargarh),

02. Barshaa Bijulira Khela (Vidyapuri, Cuttack),

03. Chhota Nuhen Chhota Kathaa (Nalanda, Cuttack, selected by State Library),

04. Big Bang Machine (The Book Point, Bhubaneswar),

05. Gapare Gapare Bigyan (The Book Point, Bhubaneswar), Awarded by Orissa Bigyan Academy in 2011

06. Barshaa Bijuli Ghadaghadi (Vidyapuri, Cuttack),

07. Anapaaramparika Shakti (Holy Faith International, Cuttack),

08. Gachha Lataara Gahana Kathaa (Holy Faith International, Cuttack)

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Text Books

01. Environmental Education (+2, Vidyapuri, Cuttack),

02. Paribesha Shiksha (+2, Vidyapuri, Cuttack),

03. Practical Physics (+2, Nalanda, Cuttack),

04. Ama Bigyan – Class I (Holy Faith International, Cuttack),

05. Ama Bigyan – Class II (Holy Faith International, Cuttack),

06. Ama Bigyan – Class III (Holy Faith International, Cuttack),

07. Ama Bigyan – Class IV (Holy Faith International, Cuttack),

08. Ama Bigyan – Class V (Holy Faith International, Cuttack)

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Awards

The sincere commitment of Sri Jena to advancement of Science among common people in the state of Orissa and beyond has received recognitions from a multitude of academic and cultural institutions. His genuine efforts spreading awareness of environmental issues among the masses has been recognized by the award of the Prakruti Bandhu Puraskar by the Government of Orissa in the year 2007. He has been felicitated by various organisations including Bigyan Prachar Samiti, Orissa and awarded 'Prakruti Bandhu Puraskar' by Government of Orissa. Recently, he has been confirmed for Orissa Bigya Academy Award for the year 2011 for his story book Gapare Gapare Bigyan on popular science.

The list of awards follows :

1. Award for Innovative Teaching Physics, 2012  : Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sundargarh
2. Pranakrushna Parija Popular Science Award, 2011  : Orissa Bigyan Academy, Bhubaneswar
3. Parashamanee Sammana, 2011  : Parashamanee Magazine, Baripada
4. Padmacharan Smruti Sammana, 2011  : Ispat Sahitya Sansad, Rourkela
5. Janapriya Bigyan Puraskar, 2010  : Bigyan Prachar Samiti, Cuttack
6. Telingibaza Bigyan Sammana, 2009  : Telingibaza Magazine, Rourkela
7. Chandrama Prabandha Sammana, 2009  : Chandrama Magazine, Anugul
8. Sishu-Sahitya Sammana, 2008  : Sishu-Sahitya Sansad, Keonjhar
9. Laabanya Saraswat Sammana, 2008  : Laabanya Magazine, Sundargarh
10. Naba Pratibha Sammana, 2008  : Biswa-Sahitya Seva Sangha, Ctc
11. Prakruti Bandhu, 2007  : Government of Orissa
12. Utkal Prabha, 2007  : Neelachakra Prakashan, Puri
13. Bigyan Lekhaka Sammana, 2007  : SCART, Cuttack
14. Abhinandan Pratibha Sammana, 2006  : Abhinandan Newspaper, Balasore
15. Tiki Kaincha Pratibha Sammana, 2006  : Tiki Kaincha Magazine, Bolangir
16. Gopinath Mohanty Pratibha Puraskar, 2005  : Bigyan Prachar Samiti
17. Best Graduate, 1991  : Rotaract Club, Bhadrak

Publications