Khordha: The true legacy of a school is not measured merely by its buildings or achievements, but by the lives it has shaped, Governor of Odisha Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati said at the 125th anniversary celebration of Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar (BJB) High School, Khordha on Saturday.
Attending the celebrations as chief guest, the Governor described the occasion as historic, stating it was an opportunity to celebrate the institution’s long-standing tradition of education, character-building and service.
He said the school had shaped generations of students and made significant contributions to the intellectual and social development of Odisha.He expressed hope that the institution would continue to nurture young minds over the next 125 years and beyond, while making meaningful contributions to the development of Odisha.
Chairman of Eastern Media and former MP Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Khordha MLA Prashant Jagdev, Flag Foundation of India CEO and retired Major General Asim Kohli, who attended as distinguished guests, and headmistress of the school and secretary of the celebration committee, Jyotirmayee Priyadarshini Panda, also addressed the gathering.
On this occasion, the guests released a commemorative publication titled Abakasha. The Governor also felicitated distinguished alumni of the school, including scientist Rajkishore Paramaguru and former police officers Deb Prasad Majumdar and Himanshu Ray.
Alumni Association chief coordinator B.K. Das delivered the welcome address, while Prof. Dr Narayan Rao, president of the celebration committee, proposed the vote of thanks.
Earlier, the Governor interacted with students and visited a science exhibition after unveiling statues of three eminent personalities associated with the school—former Chief Minister and Governor Janaki Ballabh Patnaik, poet Kabisurya Kalicharan Patnaik, and Jnanpith Award-winning poet Sachidananda Routray.
He also unfurled the National Flag atop a 72-foot-high flagpole.
The day’s celebrations were rounded off with an engaging cultural programme, under the supervision of renowned Odissi dancer SNA awardee Guru Snehaprava Samantaray. A large audience turned up to witness the performances.
The cultural evening opened with a captivating solo Odissi recital by young and talented dancer Abhipsa Pati, who has been training under Guru Snehaprava Samantaray for the last eight years. She presented an abhinaya ‘Dekhiba Para Asare‘.
Choreographed by legendary Odissi maestro Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, music composed by Pandit Bhubaneswar Mishra and dance direction by Guru Snehaprava Samantaray, the piece portrayed a gopi completely spellbound by the beauty of her beloved Krishna. Abhipsa won over the audience with her poised movements, expressive abhinaya and crisp footwork, drawing enthusiastic applause.
Next, eight dancers of Odissi Dance Creation presented a Mangalacharan ‘Biswaswara Vandana’, an invocation to Bisweswar, or Lord Shiva, the eternal witness, the ash-clad ascetic whose cosmic pulse animates both silence and sound. Choreographed by Guru Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pradhan, music by Guru K.Ramarao Patra and Guru Nimakanta Rautray and rhythm by Guru Dhaneswar Swain, the piece was a visual treat. The dancers were Pankaj, Basanta, Buddhiram, Arjit, Kalyani, Mamata, Debasmita and Laxmipriya.
The evening concluded on a high note with “Krishnaya Tubhyam Namah’, a scintillating group recital by six dancers of Odissi Dance Creation. Choreographed by Padma Shri Gangadhar Pradhan, music composed by Guru Dr Subash Pani and dance direction by Guru Pankaj Kumar Pradahan, the performance brought alive the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu through intricate formations and synchronised movements.The recital won a generous applause from the audience. The dancers were Pankaj, Basanta, Buddhiram, Arjit, Kalyani and Laxmipriya.
The emcee of the evening was Dr Mrutyunjay Rath.
It is worth mentioning, as documented in the Gazetteers and Utkal Dipika, Khordha was among the eight places in Odisha where a vernacular school was established in 1844 under Lord Hardinge’s scheme.
The institution was elevated to a Middle English School in 1867 and attained High English School status in 1896. After Independence, the school was aptly rechristened in honour of the immortal memory of the great son of Khordha who led the Paika Rebellion of 1817 – the first war of independence in India. Thus the institution got its proud name “Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Bhramarbar Ray High English School”.
Over the years, the school has been a veritable nursery of talent and a cradle of distinction, producing a galaxy of eminent personalities who have left an indelible mark on Odisha and beyond. Its illustrious alumni include Dr. Mayadhar Mansingh, Kabi Chandra Kali Charan Patnaik, Padma Shri Sachi Rautray, Akhil Mohan Patnaik, Shri Janaki Ballav Patnaik, Shri Satyananda Champatiray, Shri Bichhanda Charan Pattanayak, Dr. Kedarnath Mahapatra, Prof. B. C. Ray, Justice Jugal Kishore Mohanty, Kulapati Baidyanath Mishra, and Brigadier Dr. Basudev Rautra.
Indeed, the school’s history is not merely a chronicle of institutional growth; it is a proud testament to its enduring tradition of nurturing minds, shaping character, and producing men and women who have risen to the occasion and made their mark in public life, literature, education, administration, law, and the armed forces.
