Chancellor

Name	:	SHRI BISWA BHUSAN HARICHANDAN
Father’s Name	:	Late Sri Parasuram Harichandan. He was a literary man, dramatist and a freedom fighter. After Independence he was the Vice-Chairman of undivided Puri Zilla Parishad from its beginning till its abolition then.
Date of Birth	:	3rd August 1934
Place of Birth	:	Banpur in Khordha District, Odisha
Educational Qualifications	:	Honours degree in Economics from S.C.S College, Puri.LLB Degree from M.S. Law College, Cuttack.
Spouse	:	Smt. Suprava Harichandan
Children	:	Shri Prithviraj Harichandan & Shri Prasanjit Harichandan

Hailing from a family of warriors and freedom fighter’s tradition in Odisha, Shri Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, who joined the High Court Bar of Odisha in 1962 and Bharatiya Jansangh in 1971, shot into prominence as an advocate and a political leader by dint, of his hard work and determination within a short span of time.

He fought against the throttling of democracy in the historic J.P. movement for which he was jailed during the Emergency for months together. As chairman of High Court Bar Association Action Committee shri Harichandan led the Lawyers’ agitation in Odisha against the supersession of Judges in Supreme Court in 1974 and roused public opinion against the dictatorial regimes of the Smt. Indira Gandhi, the then, Prime-Minister.

Shri Harichandan, a stalwart in Odisha politics was elected to the State Assembly of Odisha for five times Viz. 1977, 1990, 1996, 2000 and 2004. He won the 2000 assembly election by a margin of 95,000 votes against his nearest rival, breaking all the previous records in Odisha.

Shri Harichandan was Minister in Odisha Government for 4 times viz. 1977, 1990, 2000 & 2004 and continued as such till 2009. During his Ministerial tenures he handled important portfolios like, Revenue, Law, Rural Development, Industries, Food & Civil Supplies, Labour & Employment, Housing, Cultural Affairs, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Departments. He was the founder President of Bharatiya Janata Party in Odisha in 1980 and elected as President for another three terms till 1988. He was also leader of the BJP Legislature Party in State Assembly for 13 years i.e., from 1996 to 2009. In the Governments, he played a very prominent role, for which he remained in the publics’ gaze. He always takes up and fights for the peoples’ cause, for which he is highly respected by the people, Administrators and politicians, irrespective of their party affiliations.

Shri Harichandan is an ardent democrat in all respect who fights for human rights, democracy, democratic values, citizen’s rights, especially rights of down trodden people and against corruption.

Shri Harichandan is a reputed columnist who has written several articles on contemporary political issues, historical, social and cultural matters which have been published in all leading newspapers of Odisha and some English weeklies of Delhi.

LITERARY CONTRIBUTIONS :-

His literary contributions are “MAHA SANGRAMAR MAHANAYAK”, a drama on Buxi jagabandhu, the supreme Commander of Paik Revolution of 1817, six one act plays MARUBHATASH, RANA PRATAP, SHESH JHALAK, on MAHARANI PADMINI of MEBAR, ASTA SIKHA ,on TAPANG DALABERA‘s heroic war & sacrifice, MANASI, (social) and ABHISAPTA KARNA(mythological), Swachcha Sasanara Gahana Katha, an anthology of his 26 short stories and “Ye MATIR DAK” a compilation of some of his selected published articles,“Sangram sari nahin”, his autobiography, which has focussed on his struggles in political, administrative, social, cultural & other fields during his long public life.

POLITICAL CAREER :-

During his tenure as a Cabinet Minister in 1977, the essential commodities, which were scarce during emergency, were not only freely made available but were available at economic price and the price-line was steadily maintained. His stringent actions against the black marketers and hoarders made him very popular in Odisha.
As Revenue Minister, he laid emphasis on computerization of land records, simplification and codification of revenue laws for convenience of administration and took bold steps for restoration of Adivasi land which are illegally and fraudulently transferred by amending Regulation 2 of 1956 and making it more stringent. Reorganized the revenue administration by making it more pro-people.
As Industry Minister he took initiative in introducing single window system and got the Industry facilitation Act passed. The much sought for R.R Policy of the State which brought a revolutionary change in the field of Rehabilitation and re-settlement of the displaced persons was the brain-child of Sri Harichandan who in his capacity as the Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee gave it final shape which was then the best R.R. Policy of the Country.
Due to his stiff opposition, the State was saved from selling away all the surplus government land for repayment of Government’s loans for which the State Cabinet had already taken a decision while he was absent from the head quarter. He said that state is the owner of the land and not the government which has limited powers like Trustees. He vehemently opposed the sale of the surplus govt. lands and was able to get the decision changed.
His constant endeavour since 1978, helped to a great extent in giving National recognition to ‘Paik Bidroh of 1817’, the historic war for freedom by the Oriyas under the great Leadership of Buxi Jagabandhu against the British regime by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modiji who directed its bicentenary celebration in the National level.