Voice of the Orient: A Tribute to Prof. Upendranath Dhal

The author, Dr. Madhusudan Mishra (born 1964), passed his post-graduation in Sanskrit from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar (1985) securing the first class first position. A brilliant student throughout his career, he had his M.Phil (1987) and Ph.D. (1993) from the University of Poona. He also worked in the Vaidika Samshodhana Mandala, Pune, the premier Vedic Research Institute in India, in the Avesta and Kanva Samhita projects from 1987-1992. A regular contributor to the leading search journals, he continues to write on Puranic Mythology and traditional Archaeology, Indian Linguistics, Vedic literature and folk culture. He has already published three books and is presently engaged in his mega-project: Ganesa: Fictions and Facts.

Dr. Raghunath Panda (born 1952), Professor of Sanskrit, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, had his M.A. (1973, first class first position), M. Phil. (1983), Ph.D (1993) and LL.B. (1997) with distinction from the same University. He has to his credit five valuable books: (1) Rukminiparinaya Mahakavyam: A Study, (2) Contribution of Orissa to Sanskrit Literature (1994), (3) Gleanings from Sanskrit Literature (2001), (4) Jayadeva Bibliography (2001) and (5) Orissa’s Contribution to Sanskrit Lyrics (2004). A prolific writer on Sanskrit lyrics, he has also edited two volume of the Vani Jyotih, the research journals of the P.G. Department of Sanskrit of Utkal University. A recipient of numerous awards, Prof. Anda is a valuable contributor to Indological research journals in India and abroad.