I  took birth in the year 1952. I got birth in capital hospital, which was earlier in Unit-1, Girls High school.

My  father was born in 1913 and they were four brothers and a sister too. I was having one brother and One sister too. My elder brother has died while is sister is still survived. My father was working in Khadagpur and later he applied and got a job with Govt of Odisha. He shifted to Bhubaneswar and joined Secretariat as a clerk. My father shifted to Bhubaneswar in 1950. I have one son and one daughter. My daughter and  son in law are staying in Canada and has taken Canadian citizenship. My Son is practicing as a Chartered Accountant.

I started my schooling in Unit-1 LP & UP school . I then came to DM school, which is in Unit-9 today. It started under Regional Science College. There was an entrance, which was successfully cleared by me. Later, I joined the school. Later I joined Ravenshaw College. After completion of College, I joined law degree and did cost accounting too but it did not materialize and I could not finish the assignments. I joined Vanivihar in 1973  and completed my masters in 1975. In 1998 I completed my PHD from Utkal University and in 2002, I got another PHD from Business administration from Berhampur university.

In 1976, I started my career in Puri Gramya Bank as a field officer.  I also got an offer from Jatani College and a clerical job from UCO bank. I got selected for OPSC in 1977 and joined as a lecturer in Bhadarkh College. For 34 years I continued as an academician and retired as a Principal of BJB College in 2011.

Since last 12 years of retirement, I have been doing social work. I am  now secretary of Bapuji Nagar Nagarika Committee, which has been formed for ensuring facilities of road light, water etc to people who stays at Bapuji Nagar. I am also the executive member of Bapuji Nagar Durga Puja Committee. I am also an advisor of Bapuji Nagar Youth Association & member of Bhubaneswar Club as well as Bhubaneswar Golf Club since 12 years. The present house was constructed in the year 1960 and since then they are all staying together in this house.

 I remember that my earliest salary was Rs 700/ per month in 1977, which was equivalent of what IAS officers got those days. People did not want to come to Bhubaneswar as it was a Jungle. The land was cheap. The 100 Decimle was in Bapuji Nagar was given in Rs 700. Harekrushna Mahatab informed that it would be difficult for middle class people to pay 700 rupees, hence, a 30% rebate was given to people. Now the4330 sq ft land sells at more than 7 Crore rupees. A bag of cement cost Rs 6  in those days. The male labour charged Rs 1.oo per day where as female labour. 50 paisa per day. By 1960, only 6 units were there. In 1958, Foundation stone of Bapujinagar was laid by Pt. Jawaharlal Neheru as first planned residential colony of Modern India. The education was limited but women were also encouraged to study.  Access to higher education was also very limited.

I have seen ethical politics in Bhubaneswar. Skirmish during election was there but it was limited. People did not fight once the election was over. Politicians were accessible and used to love people and loved to stand by them.

Medical facilities was not there in Bapuji Nagar. People went to Old Town. Gadadhar Mohapatra was very popular doctor. He was earlier an LMP Doctor and later he went on to complete his MBBS and served people. He visited door to door when required in his car and treated people with Just Rs 5.00 per patient. Till 1970 Capital Hospital was the only institute of the city but after 1970 other medical institutes started appearing.

Laxman Mishra of Puri was an Ayurvedic Doctor who used to have his clinic in Unit-2. In Homeopathy, Avvinna Chandra Rao was a homeopathic doctor was also having a clinic in Unit-4. They used to charge 1 to 2 rupees per patient.

Bhanja Kala Mandap used to have funnel type Kala Gauna which was played in case any new cinema comes to City. Once that is blowed, people used to rush to Bhanja Kalamandap to watch Movie.

Rupa Mandira was a film hall which existed in Old town. The ticket of the movie was less than one rupee. Ravi talkies was also there which is no more operational. Shriya talkies was launched and hence it became the largest and most sophisticated movie halls of Bhubaneswar.

The present day museum, which is located at Kalpana Square today was existed in Unit-1 where Principal Office of Driving Institute existed. The museum later shifted to present day location after 1960. Bullock Cart was largely used for moving construction goods. People from Bargarh were known for shaping the stones. The stones used to come from Jatani. Most of the houses were first constructed using tile as cement was largely not available. Hence, people used to do tile roof first and later they demolish It to do concrete roof.

Water Supply was not available in Bapuji Nagar. People used to draw water from well. But for bathing purpose Bhubaneswar Bapuji Nagar was given water supply around 1960. Corruption was not that prevalent. It was limited to lower rungs of administration only. But later it grew a lot in late 1990s where people started looking to amass physical properties and when materialistic possessions were given prime importance and decided your Purushartha to a large extent.

In 1999 there was cyclone which uprooted the trees and fani damaged the branches of many trees. Similarly in 1982, the flood damaged Cuttack Bhubaenswar roads. People then travelled from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar by Train. This has also affected the property pricing of the area largely. Many farmers sold their lands at throw away prices. Most of the lands were adjacent to national highway.

The GPO was still not there by 1960 and there was one post office which was there in Unit-1 Market. People used to go to post office to do book the trunk call.

I can surely say that, Old Bhubaneswar gave lot of promise to the people. Many industrial units and individuals have improved using their skills and talent. Owners’ of Lalchanda and Kala mandir grew using their entrepreneurial skills.

We  used to go to Nandankanan for picnic etc. . We used to board a train from master canteen alighted at Baranga. We have also gone to Dhauligiri, Khandagiri on holidays alone and with family too etc. Many times, we have gone to Kudiari village of Jatani in Cycle to have feast with friends.

Rajkishore Sahu of Hotel Rajmahal who was also very close to Dr. Harekrushna Mahatab used to have one Don Biscuit Factory at Cuttack too. Satyapriya Mohanty the ex-MLA were powerful and influential personalities who used to command people’s respect and love. The food to Assembly was even supplied from Hotel Raj Mahal

Old times of Bhubaneswar were having winds that were loved by people. The area from Aerodrum to Janapath was vacant and there were culverts on roads. People used to sit on those culverts and used to have an Adda with each other during evening time. The speed of the wind was more in summer but usually round the year, the wind flowed giving respite to people from hit. Large construction has reduced those winds.

Students were having aspirations but not towards civil servants job. Engineers did not have much job in those times and used to stay unemployed. Most wanted to do medical job, as it used to provide stable income. Tuition was not very popular. Students used to do self studies. The tuition was very limited and the cost of tuition was limited to Rs 60.00 per month. A person with Rs 5/- in pocket used to consider himself rich and powerful as he can buy a whole lot of things out of the amount.