PPRACHIN

PPRACHIN (SOA Centre for Preservation, Propagation and Restoration of Ancient Culture and Heritage of India)

PPRACHIN is the brainchild of Prof. (Dr.) Manojranjan Nayak, founder of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan. His visionary leadership has fostered an exceptional ecosystem for quality academics, research and healthcare in Odisha. A distinguished academician, educationist and institution builder, Prof.(Dr.)Nayak has been instrumental in creating innovative platforms that integrate professional education with cultural and societal values. His unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation and holistic development has laid the foundation for centres like PPRACHIN, ensuring that India’s heritage and traditions are preserved, studied and celebrated for future generations.

Founded on 17 July 2019, the SOA Centre for Preservation, Propagation and Restoration of Ancient Culture and Heritage of India (PPRACHIN) works to safeguard, reinterpret and celebrate the country’s timeless traditions.

SOA recognizes that while science and technology drive modern progress, they must be enriched by the fragrance of art, culture and literature. At its philosophical core, PPRACHIN is committed to preserving and promoting India’s invaluable heritage. Through rigorous research, critical scholarship, digitization, and global dissemination, the Centre addresses challenges in conservation while highlighting the enduring wisdom embedded in cultural memory.

Thrust Areas

PPRACHIN focuses on the following key areas to fulfill its mission and vision:

• Tribal Culture & Oral Traditions – Research, documentation, and preservation of indigenous knowledge, folkloreand performances.
• Indian Knowledge System (IKS) – Reviving and reinterpreting ancient wisdom across philosophy, science, arts and agriculture.
• Digitization & Archives – Creating digital repositories of books, journals, manuscripts, palm-leaf texts and rare cultural materials.
• Scholarship & Publications – Producing critical editions, translations and research studies on India’s heritage.
• Workshops & Cultural Festivals – Organizing platforms for dialogue, creativity and global cultural exchange.

By emphasizing the role of culture across science, technology, agriculture, and all aspects of human development, PPRACHIN affirms that true progress is not only technological, but is also deeply rooted in the arts, humanities, and cultural inheritance.

Mission

PPRACHIN strives to preserve, promote, and make India’s cultural heritage accessible while fostering research and creativity:

• Preserve and promote India’s literary and cultural heritage with focus on Odisha.
• Research and document tribal culture, indigenous traditions and oral histories.
• Study and disseminate the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) connecting ancient wisdom with contemporary thought.
• Digitize and critically study manuscripts, art, literature and folklore.
• Organize workshops, lectures and festivals to nurture scholarship and creativity.

Vision

PPRACHIN aspires to be a national and international hub, blending tradition with innovation:

• Become a centre of excellence in cultural and literary studies globally.
• Highlight tribal culture and the Indian Knowledge System on international platforms.
• Integrate preservation with innovation through digital technologies and modern scholarship.
• Promote interdisciplinary research, cultural exchange, and creative engagement.
• Inspire future generations by keeping culture a living force of identity and continuity.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMME:

SOA, through PPRACHIN, offers specialized Ph.D. programmes that integrate research, heritage and innovation. These are:

1. Ph.D. in Anthropology & Tribal Studies
2. Ph.D. in Yoga
3. Ph.D. in Culture Studies

Ph.D. in Anthropology & Tribal Studies

This program offers in-depth research on India’s tribal communities-their languages, folklore, social structures, and cultural practices. As Odisha alone has  62 tribes accounting for 9% of tribal population nationally and 22.5% in the state, the focus is on documenting and preserving endangered traditions, art, music, and rituals. Scholars safeguard indigenous knowledge systems protecting India’s intangible heritage for future generations.

Ph.D. in Yoga

The program offers a scholarly exploration of Yoga integrating scientific, philosophical and practical perspectives. Scholars study its origins, evolution and modern relevance while emphasizing holistic well-being through the harmony of body, mind and spirit. Beyond health, it highlights Yoga’s cultural significance as an ancient Indian discipline with global resonance promoting both individual transformation and collective wellness.

Ph.D. in Culture Studies

This program fosters interdisciplinary research on literature, art, traditions and social practices. Scholars critically engage with cultural continuity and transformation, exploring historical roots and contemporary relevance. From editing ancient manuscripts to studying evolving traditions, the program deepens understanding of India’s cultural legacy while contributing to its preservation, reinterpretation and global appreciation.

Currently, under PPRACHIN, thirty researchers are engaged in advanced studies: six in Anthropology and Tribal Studies, nine in Yoga, and fifteen in Ancient Literature, Language and Culture. This vibrant community of scholars ensures a multidisciplinary approach, combining rigorous research methodologies with a deep commitment to preserving and promoting India’s invaluable cultural and intellectual traditions.

DIGITIZATION:

Digitization of written materials is one of PPRACHIN’s flagship initiatives dedicated to preserving Odisha’s vast literary and cultural heritage. For long, systematic digitization in the state was minimal, apart from pioneering efforts by Srujanika in 2006. Recognizing the urgency, PPRACHIN took over the initiative, significantly expanding its scope. Manuscripts, books, and journals—no matter how carefully preserved-are vulnerable to deterioration. Signifying loss of irretrievable fragments of cultural identity. With Odia literature boasting printed works since 1809, systematic digitization is indispensable for its survival. Since May 2021, PPRACHIN has digitized over seven lakh pages and 4,500 books, a milestone made possible by scholars, contributors and volunteers. Though mechanical, digitization is central to safeguarding Odisha’s literary memory, ensuring accessibility to researchers worldwide and transmitting heritage to future generations. PPRACHIN’s digital preservation efforts thus stand as a vital bridge between Odisha’s cultural past and its sustainable future.

EDITING AND PUBLICATION:

A major initiative of PPRACHIN is the meticulous editing and publication of ancient and medieval texts, with special focus on a critical edition of Saroladas’s Mahabharatha. Saroladas, a 15th-century poet who was inspired by divine vision, is revered as the father of Odia literature and an enduring cultural icon. His works-the Mahabharatha, Bichitraramayana and Chandipurana—offer invaluable insights into Odisha’s political, social, cultural and religious milieu. Under PPRACHIN, the Mahabharatha is being published in stages, with AdiParva and KarnadisasaParva already released. Alongside, a digital version is being created, supplemented with a vocabulary corpus, dictionary, encyclopedia and English translation to enhance global accessibility. A prose version is also underway to reach broader readership. Through such endeavors, PPRACHIN combines traditional scholarship with modern tools to ebsure ensuring Saroladas’s legacy remains alive, studied, and celebrated across cultures and generations.

EPIGRAPHICAL RESEARCH:

Epigraphical research forms another major initiative of PPRACHIN. It focuses on the collection, transcription, editing, linguistic analysis and English translation of Odia inscriptions on stone and copper plates. A landmark achievement in this field includes publication of Prachina Odia Abhilekha compiling inscriptions from the 13th to 18th centuries, providing authentic primary sources for historical and cultural reconstruction.

Other notable publications:

• Saroladas Mahabharatha Samapadana Prastava – Proposal on editing Saroladas’sMahabharatha.
• The Saga of Two Spiritual Travelers – Research on MahimaGosain and BhimaBhoi.
• A Study of Charyapada – Analysis of ancient Buddhist mystical songs.
• Dasapoi Grantha by Yugabhanja.

Forthcoming work:

• Charyagiti Kosha – A dictionary and critical discussion of Charyapada.

Beyond inscriptions, PPRACHIN undertakes research in folklore, folk songs, performing arts, music, dance and tribal life, using anthropological and ethnographic approaches to ensure holistic cultural preservation.

RESEARCH PROJECT:

Under Vision Viksit Bharat@2047, the Centre has undertaken a research project titled “Community-Based Ecotourism and Sustainable Livelihood Securities through Entrepreneurship Development” in tribal-dominated districts of Eastern India. Sponsored by ICSSR, New Delhi, it explores how ecotourism can foster entrepreneurship, enhance income, conserve indigenous culture and resources, and empower tribal communities through sustainable livelihoods.

LIBRARY:

PPRACHIN boasts a rich library of over 10,000 books and journals making it a vital resource for scholars and researchers. A distinguished part of this collection comes from the personal libraries of two eminent scholars-Prof. Sudarshan Acharya and Prof. Nityananda Satpathy-containing rare works from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Beyond printed books, the library treasures a remarkable collection of rare palm-leaf manuscripts, including the writings of great masters like Balaram Das, Upendra Bhanja and other medieval poets. Together, these resources preserve Odisha’s literary legacy while serving as a foundation for further research and cultural exploration.

CULTURAL ENGAGEMENTS:

PPRACHIN has been at the forefront of academic and cultural initiatives that foster research, scholarship and the preservation of India’s diverse literary and linguistic traditions, with a strong focus on Odia language and culture. Eminent linguists, writers, and cultural thinkers of national and international repute actively participate in discourses presenting papers and delivering lectures that highlight both regional heritage and pan-Indian literary dialogues.

Regular lectures, symposia and workshops sustain the spirit of dialogue between tradition and modernity.

From this dynamic ecosystem emerged the SOA Literary Festival, PPRACHIN’s flagship celebration of literature, arts and cultural exchange, bringing together voices from across India.

The SOA Literary Festival

The SOA Literary Festival was launched to create a vibrant platform for literary and cultural dialogue, bringing together writers, thinkers and artists from across India and abroad. It celebrates literature in all its forms, fosters interdisciplinary exchange and inspires intellectual engagement, cultural awareness and creativity.

The SOA Literary Festival has rapidly become a premier national platform for literary and cultural dialogue. Its inaugural edition (1-2 February 2020), themed “Literature and other Arts,” brought together more than 100 writers, thinkers and artists from India across 26 sessions to explore literature’s interplay with visual, performative and auditory arts. Panel discussions, workshops and performances celebrated plurality, creating a vibrant space where creativity thrived in dialogue and synthesis.

Building on this foundation, the second edition (24-26 November 2023) expanded the scope with the theme “Indian Culture, Society and Literature: Prospects and Challenges” With 60 sessions and around 250 speakers from across India, it created a crucial platform to deliberate on cultural continuities, social realities and challenges of identity, diversity, gender, migration and globalization. These discussions reaffirmed literature as both a mirror of society and a catalyst for transformation.

The forthcoming third edition of the SOA Literary Festival (29-30 November 2025), themed “Culture, Creativity and Artificial Intelligence,” will explore the intersection of human imagination and technology. Featuring more than 150 writers from across India and 30 engaging sessions, the festival will celebrate the convergence of literature, culture and AI, highlighting innovation, experimentation and the boundless possibilities that emerge when creativity meets artificial intelligence.

Across its editions, the SOA Literary Festival has emerged as a celebration of imagination, creativity and critical dialogue-bringing together writers, scholars and artists from across India to affirm how literature and culture continue to inspire, challenge and shape human expression in a rapidly changing world.

SOA Sahitya Samman

The Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Literary Festival, organised by PPRACHIN, proudly instituted the SOA Sahitya Samman to honour outstanding literary contributions. In its inaugural edition, the award was conferred on two distinguished writers-eminent Odia story writer Tarunkanti Mishra and noted Santali author Kalicharan Hembram.

The second edition became a landmark in Odia literary history, when eleven eminent Odia writers from diverse genres of literature, all born between 1928 and 1937, were felicitated together on one platform. This unprecedented recognition celebrated Odisha’s literary heritage in a manner never witnessed before.

Eleven of Odisha’s towering literary and intellectual figures were honoured. They are:

1. Achyutananda Pati (1927)- Eminent Story Writer
2. Satakadi Hota (1929)- Eminent Story Writer, Novelist and Editor
3. Debi Prasanna Pattanayak (1931)- Eminent Linguist and Literary Critic
4. Santanu Kumar Acharya(1933)- Eminent Novelist and Story Writer
5. Ramakanta Rath(1934)- Eminent Poet and Story Writer
6. Srinivas Udgata (1935)- Eminent Translator and Poet
7. Jagannath Prasad Das(1936)- Eminent Poet, Story Writer, Playwright and Artist
8. Dasarathi Das(1936)- Eminent Literary Critic and Essayist
9. Anant Mahapatra(1936)- Thespian and the renaissance man of Odia theatre
10. Sitakant Mahapatra(1937)- Eminent Poet, Literary critic and Translator
11. Bibhuti Patnaik(1937)- Eminent Novelist, Story Writer and Columnist

Each awardee was presented with a citation, an uttariya, a statuette of Goddess Saraswati, and a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000. The ceremony stood as a rare and first-of-its-kind tribute, bringing together stalwarts of Odia literature on a single stage.

SOA Sahitya Samman 2025

Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, has instituted the SOA Sahitya Samman to honour and celebrate outstanding literary contributions from across India. The award recognizes eminent writers, poets, and thinkers whose works exemplify excellence, creativity, intellectual depth, and cultural resonance. Instituted as a tribute to the timeless power of literature, the SOA Sahitya Samman acknowledges literary achievements that enrich the collective imagination, foster cultural understanding, and uphold the enduring value of words in shaping society.

The award carries a cash prize of ₹7,00,000, along with a citation, a silver idol of Goddess Saraswati, and a shawl. It will be conferred annually upon a distinguished Indian writer from any of the languages recognized by the Constitution of India.

SOA Yuva Sahitya Puraskar 2025

To encourage and celebrate the emerging voices of Odisha, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University) has instituted the SOA YuvaSahityaPuraskar from this year onwards. The award seeks to recognize exceptional young talents in Odia literature who have demonstrated originality and promise across diverse genres such as poetry, fiction, drama, and literary criticism.The SOA Yuva Sahitya Puraskar carries a cash prize of ₹1,00,000, along with a citation, a silver plaque, and a shawl.

Through this initiative, SOA reaffirms its commitment to nurturing literary creativity and inspiring the next generation of Odia writers who will carry forward the state’s rich literary legacy.

Additionally, a special award will be conferred on a promising young Odia writer, inspiring the next generation to carry forward the enduring flame of literature.

Women Achievers of Odisha (WAO) Award

The Women Achievers of Odisha (WAO) Award, instituted in 2021 by Summa Real Media Pvt. Ltd. and PPRACHIN, SOA, celebrates inspiring women who pave the way for meaningful change through dedication and resilience. Many awardees come from rural Odisha, working silently without recognition or resources, yet embodying courage, perseverance and social responsibility. Through platforms like Prameya, News7 and PPRACHIN their stories are brought to light, honoring their contributions and inspiring countless others. The WAO Award is more than recognition-it is a tribute to the strength of women and reflects the philosophy of “Giving Back to Society.”

National Tribal Writers’ Meet

In collaboration with the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, PPRACHIN organized a National Tribal Writers’ Meet on 9th-10th August 2023 in Bhubaneswar, on the occasion of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. The two-day program brought together writers representing 49 tribal languages across the country, and it included panel discussions, poetry and short story readings, talks, and performances, focusing on contemporary and culturally relevant themes.

World’s First Odia Language Conference

In collaboration with the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, Government of Odisha, PPRACHIN organized a two-day seminar on the eve of the World’s First Odia Language Conference on 4th and 5th February 2024. The seminar comprised 10 sessions, where more than 40 eminent scholars presented papers and deliberated on diverse aspects of Odia language and culture, fostering critical dialogue and enriching scholarly engagement.

On this occasion, eminent novelist, story writer and columnist Bibhuti Pattnaik was felicitated by SOA with a Uttariya, citation, and a cash award of ¹ 1,00,000 in recognition of his lifetime contribution to Odia literature.

Lecture Series

To nurture critical thought and dialogue, PPRACHIN organizes a lecture series on literature and cultural issues. Distinguished scholars and experts share their research, offering fresh insights into classical, modern, and interdisciplinary themes. Notable lectures include one by Prof. B.N. Pattnaik on Jagannath Das’s Mahabharata (18 March 2025) and Prof. J. Dash on Anthropology of Literature (29April 2025). These sessions engaged students, researchers, and the wider community, enriching perspectives and fostering sustained intellectual curiosity.

Workshops

Research Methodology Workshop:

Further strengthening research capabilities, PPRACHIN, in collaboration with ICSSR, organized a ten-day course on research methodology in Social Sciences from 6 -15 January 2025. The program was attended by over 40 research scholars from across India and guided by more than 15 internationally reputed experts, significantly enhancing participants’ skills in contemporary research practices.

Text Editing Workshop:

In the field of manuscript preservation, PPRACHIN conducted a five-day workshop on Pothi Sampadana from 23 – 28 April 2025, training 15 participants from three universities in the techniques and skills required for editing palm leaf manuscripts. This hands-on initiative is vital to safeguard Odisha’s textual heritage and impart practical expertise in traditional scholarship.

Through its thoughtfully curated seminars, workshops, and lecture series, PPRACHIN has nurtured enduring spaces of interdisciplinary dialogue, cultural celebration, and literary innovation, strengthening its mission to preserve and promote India’s vast literary and artistic traditions.

In essence, PPRACHIN is not just an institution but a living bridge-between the ancient and the modern, memory and technology, wisdom and innovation. It embodies continuity and renewal, ensuring that Odia and Indian cultural heritage does not merely survive but thrives, inspires, and evolves for generations to come.