Bhubaneswar : In the quiet dawn of a new century, when India was still carving its dream of modern education, Odisha stood at a crossroads. The state was rich with culture, tradition, and natural beauty, but opportunities for higher learning were few. Yet, in that very landscape of limited access, seeds of extraordinary institutions were planted — institutions that would grow not only into centres of excellence but into symbols of hope for generations of students and scholars.
The story begins more than 150 years ago, in 1868, when a humble academic initiative took form in Cuttack. What would later become Ravenshaw University started as an intermediate school, built not with wealth but with will — the will to bring education to ordinary people. Students of that time walked miles, carried books wrapped in cloth, and studied by lantern light. But Ravenshaw became more than brick and mortar; it became a cradle of ideas. Leaders, thinkers, freedom fighters and intellectuals found their voices within its historic red walls.
Decades later, as the dream of Utkal University began taking shape in 1943, Odisha saw its first true university — a centre created to serve a rising state that wished to chart its own course in a changing India. With just a handful of departments and limited funds, the university opened its doors. Its classrooms were simple, its resources limited, but its vision was boundless. Young students sat on wooden benches, listening with shining eyes, believing they were part of something bigger — and they were right. For it was there that Odisha’s modern academic identity was born.
As time flowed, more institutions emerged — Sambalpur University and Berhampur University in 1967, Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT) in 1962, Shri Jagannath Sanskrit University in 1981, Fakir Mohan University in 1999, and many more in the decades that followed. Each university was built with a purpose. Some preserved ancient knowledge; some introduced cutting-edge science; some empowered researchers to work on agriculture, environment, culture, or technology. Together, these universities reshaped the educational landscape of Odisha.
But behind every university’s growth lies the story of countless students — young women and men who battled challenges, pushed boundaries, and turned adversity into achievement.
One such student was Maya Pradhan, from a small village near Berhampur. Her family had never seen a university, let alone imagined their daughter would attend one. She struggled with English, feared mathematics, and often doubted herself. But the university environment changed her. A professor noticed her curiosity, a senior helped her with her first research paper, and slowly, she discovered the world of marine science. Years later, Maya would lead a coastal research project that helped protect fishing communities from cyclonic erosion. Her roots were humble, but her impact was extraordinary.
Then there was Arjun Satapathy, a young man from Sambalpur who joined Sambalpur University with the dream of becoming a writer. His father was a farmer, his mother a homemaker, and life was not easy. But the university became his guide. Spending evenings in the library and mornings at poetry discussions, Arjun found his voice. When his first anthology won national recognition, he dedicated it to his university — the place that taught him to believe in himself.
Equally inspiring is the story of Priyanka Mohanty, a researcher at OUAT. While working on climate-resilient crop varieties, she faced months of failed experiments. Many told her research wasn’t for her, that science was too demanding. But she stayed late in labs, read research papers till midnight, and refused to give up. Years later, her work helped thousands of farmers increase productivity despite unpredictable weather. Her discovery became a beacon of hope — showing that perseverance can rewrite the future.
These stories are not isolated. Every university corridor in Odisha echoes with such journeys — students overcoming financial struggles, scholars rising above self-doubt, researchers pushing the boundaries of innovation. The history of Odisha’s universities is not merely about dates; it is about dreams.
From the red-brick majesty of Ravenshaw to the sprawling green campuses of OUAT, from culturally rich institutions like Utkal University of Culture to the modern vision of the Central University of Odisha, each university represents a chapter in Odisha’s educational transformation.
And for today’s students and researchers, this legacy carries a message:
You are part of a long, proud journey.
You are walking the same halls that once shaped leaders.
You are reading the same texts that once inspired scholars.
And within you lies the potential to build the next chapter of Odisha’s academic story.
You may face challenges — financial limitations, academic pressure, competition, uncertainty about the future. But remember, every great scholar once stood where you stand. Every researcher once struggled with experiments that failed. Every writer once doubted their own words. Every achiever once questioned their abilities.
What matters is not where you come from, but where you are willing to go.
Odisha’s universities have grown because students like you have dared to dream. They have expanded because researchers like you have dared to question. They have flourished because young minds like yours have dared to innovate. You are not just studying for a degree; you are inheriting a legacy of courage, commitment, and discovery.
As Odisha continues to build new universities, upgrade old institutions, and promote research across disciplines, you stand at a powerful moment in history. The tools, opportunities, and platforms available today are greater than ever before. Use them. Explore new ideas. Ask bold questions. Collaborate. Innovate. And above all, believe in your capacity to impact the world.
Because someday, future generations will say that you — today’s students, today’s scholars — carried forward the century-long torch of knowledge in Odisha.
And the story of Odisha’s universities will continue, shining even brighter, because of you.
Odisha’s history of higher education is not merely a list of institutions—it is the story of a region that transformed adversity into opportunity and inspired thousands of students, researchers, and thinkers. From the early 20th century to 2025, Odisha’s universities have stood as symbols of resilience, learning, and progress.
Ravenshaw College → Ravenshaw University (1868 → 2006)
Though earlier than 1900, the roots define Odisha’s education.
- Began in 1868 as the Cuttack College with intermediate classes.
- Renamed Ravenshaw College in 1878.
- Finally became Ravenshaw University on 15 November 2006.
- One of India’s most historic learning spaces, shaping Odisha’s first generation of administrators, scholars, and leaders.
Inspiration: Ravenshaw teaches students that greatness may begin small, but perseverance turns institutions—and lives—into legends.
Utkal University (1943)
- Established on 27 November 1943—the first university of Odisha.
- Started from Ravenshaw College before shifting to its own campus in Bhubaneswar.
- Became the mother university for countless colleges across the state.
Inspiration: Utkal University reminds researchers that true pioneers pave the path for others.
Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT) – 1962
- Established in 1962 in Bhubaneswar.
- A milestone for agricultural science, veterinary science, forestry, and rural innovation.
Inspiration: OUAT inspires students to see science not just as study, but as service to society.
Berhampur University (1967)
- Established on 2 January 1967.
- A key affiliating university for southern Odisha.
Sambalpur University (1967)
- Located at Jyoti Vihar, Burla.
- Became a major centre for social science, tribal studies, and natural sciences.
Shri Jagannath Sanskrit University (1981)
- Established in 1981 in Puri.
- Dedicated to Sanskrit language, scriptures, and Indian knowledge traditions.
Utkal University of Culture (1999)
- Established in 1999.
- Focuses on protecting and promoting Odisha’s art, heritage, culture, dance, and crafts.
Fakir Mohan University (1999)
- Located in Balasore.
- Named after the legendary Odia novelist Fakir Mohan Senapati.
Gangadhar Meher University (1944 → 2015)
- Started as Sambalpur College in 1944.
- Renamed Gangadhar Meher College in 1949.
- Upgraded to Gangadhar Meher University in 2015.
Inspiration: It represents how an institution grows stronger with its students, faculty, and community.
Rama Devi Women’s University (1964 → 2015)
- Began as Rama Devi Women’s College in 1964.
- Upgraded to Odisha’s first women’s university in 2015.
- Named after freedom fighter Rama Devi Choudhury.
Inspiration: A living symbol of women’s empowerment—encouraging thousands of girls to dream without limits.
Khallikote Unitary University (1878 → 2015 → 2021)
- Began as Khallikote College in 1878.
- Became Odisha’s first cluster university in 2015.
- Converted into a unitary university in 2021.
Central University of Odisha (2009)
- Established through the Central Universities Act, 2009.
- Located in Koraput, bringing higher education to the heart of tribal Odisha.
Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University – MSCB University (1948 → 2020)
- Originally established as North Odisha University in 1998.
- Renamed Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University in 2020, honouring the great ruler of Mayurbhanj.
- A major educational centre of northern Odisha.
Rajendra University, Balangir (1944 → 2020)
- Started as Rajendra College in 1944.
- Upgraded to Rajendra University in 2020.
- One of the most prominent institutions in western Odisha.
Inspiration: Proof that legacy institutions can be reborn with a modern mission.
Manikeswari University, Bhawanipatna (1960 → 2020)
- Originated from Government Autonomous College, Bhawanipatna (est. 1960).
- Upgraded to Manikeswari University in 2020.
- It symbolises the growing educational aspirations in Kalahandi region.
Vikram Dev University (1947 → 2021)
- Began as Vikram Deb College, Jeypore (established 1947).
- Upgraded to a university in 2021.
Diversification of Specialised Universities
- Agriculture (OUAT)
- Culture (UUC)
- Sanskrit (SJSU)
- Women’s education (Rama Devi Women’s University)
