Summary
Abinash Pradhan was admitted to Class I at KISS in 2017
In Class V now, he is also engaged in extra-curricular activities such as yoga and sports
Abinash Pradhan, a tribal boy from Kandhamal in Odisha, lost his mother when he was just an infant. With his father away in Kerala, where he worked as a daily wager to support the family, Abinash was taken care of by his elder brother and three sisters.
Greater misfortune awaited the family as Abinash’s father died after he fell from a tree.
The grief-stricken children had no option but to look up to God to rescue them from the difficult times. As the days passed by, the eldest sister attained the age of marriage. This was an additional burden for the eldest son who was passing through hard days. The elder brother of Abinash, after elementary education, was sitting idle without any permanent employment.
Abinash, the youngest child with the passage of time grew older and became eligible for pursuing elementary education. But the plight of the family was such that they were not capable of even elementary education for him. His uncle searched a lot for various avenues for Abinash and ultimately came to know about the opportunities available at into Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar, which provides holistic education to poor and indigenous students with free food, accommodation, and healthcare.
Abinash stepped into KISS in 2017. It was a different world altogether under the stewardship of Achyuta Samanta. The education model at KISS with food and shelter was a boon for him.
KISS was founded by educationist, social activist, and philanthropist Achyuta Samanta in 1992-93. After more than three decades of glorious journey, Samanta doesn’t require an introduction. From negotiating arduous early years, today he has become a great rallying point for people at home and abroad.
KISS is a symbol of Samanta’s tenacity and determination. Besides education and tribal uplift, healthcare and rural development, he has contributed immensely to art, culture, literature, film, media, society and national integration. His contribution to the field of sports requires a huge canvas to list its rise and expanses, right from the grassroots to international podiums. The enormity of the man can hardly be elaborated on paper.
Besides KISS, Samanta also founded the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT). Both educational institutions have achieved global repute and recognition. KIIT is an Institution of Eminence and one of the most prominent universities in India and the world for professional education with more than 30,000 students from all over India and 65 other countries. KISS is home to 60,000 indigenous children.
Once at KISS, Abinash focused on his studies diligently as he realised that the innumerable opportunities available would definitely stand him in good stead to anchor his future ambitions. In Class V now, he is also engaged in extra-curricular activities such as yoga and sports.
Abinash, with the active support of all his mentors, tutors, teachers, and coaches, is committed to realising his dream of becoming an ideal police officer. He is deeply indebted to Samanta for his kind benevolence to the poor and deprived and magnificent endeavour for creating an enabling universe at KISS, Bhubaneswar, where distressed children who have faced dejection and despair can emerge rejuvenated with new hopes, aspirations, and dreams.
Abinash acknowledges his deep gratitude to the stakeholders of KISS and especially the founder of KISS for his kind support and blessings.
This article has been curated in association with Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS).
Last updated on 17 Mar 2022
