Fakir Mohan University Professor Bags Coveted ICCR Chair Abroad – A Trailblazing Achievement
Balasore : 16/06(Krushna Kumar Mohanty) In a remarkable feather in the academic cap of Odisha, Professor Anil Kumar Mohapatra of Fakir Mohan University has been handpicked for the prestigious "Indian Chair Abroad" by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) for the year 2025 - a distinction few in the country achieve.
This rare honor, under the aegis of the Ministry of External Affairs, places Prof. Mohapatra as India’s cultural and academic envoy at the Center for Nepal and Asian Studies, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu. He is the first academic from any university in Odisha to receive this recognition, marking a historic milestone for the state’s higher education landscape.
The ICCR Chairs, established in foreign universities, are flagship positions aimed at building bridges of knowledge and culture. Scholars who earn this title are not only entrusted with academic responsibilities , teaching, and research — but also with the larger mission of showcasing Indian civilization, heritage, and thought traditions on the world stage.
With MoUs in place with 47 universities across 32 countries, ICCR’s global academic footprint is expansive. The selection process is fiercely competitive, with only a select handful of scholars chosen annually to serve as Scholar-in-Residence, acting as India’s academic diplomats overseas.
Prof. Mohapatra’s journey to this distinguished post is no overnight success. With a formidable academic background and previous research stints at the University of Oxford (UK) and the University of Heidelberg (Germany), he has long been a torchbearer of Indian academia. Before joining Fakir Mohan University, he was a faculty member at Utkal University, earning accolades for his scholarly pursuits and commitment to education.
Following the announcement, Prof. Santosh Kumar Tripathy, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of Fakir Mohan University, extended his heartfelt congratulations and described the achievement as a moment of immense pride for the institution and the state.
Several eminent personalities and academicians, including Hon’ble Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Smt. Surama Padhy, and Vice-Chancellors Prof. Shiba Prasad Adhikari, Prof. Madhumita Das, Prof. Binayak Rath, Prof. Deepak Kumar Behera, and Prof. Byomokesh Tripathy also offered their warm felicitations.
Prof. Mohapatra’s appointment is being hailed as a landmark achievement, not just for himself, but for the academic community of Odisha at large, putting the state and Fakir Mohan University
on the global scholarly map.
