Forestry Professional and Researcher Bijay Kumar Swain Passes Away at 77

Bhubaneswar: Bijay Kumar Swain, a distinguished forestry professional and Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, known for his remarkable contributions to forestry research, innovation, and community forest management, passed away on January 23 at a city-based hospital. He was 77.

Swain was celebrated for his extensive work in Forestry, Silviculture, Bamboo Forest Management, Medicinal Plants of Odisha, and Community Forest Management. A brilliant academician, Swain’s career was marked by dedication to environmental conservation and research. He had visited Oxford University.

After retiring in 2008, Swain devoted himself to studying the Maritime History of Kalinga. His passion for Odisha’s heritage led him to explore ancestral locations and Sanskrit inscriptions to document the Kalinga tradition. His scholarly pursuits resulted in two notable books, The Kalinga Heritage, and Kalinga – Pioneer of Indianisation of Southeast Asia, which shed light on Odisha’s historical contributions to Southeast Asia.

Swain is survived by his wife, Jayanti Swain, two daughters—Dr. Roma Rattan, MBBS (MD), currently Joint DMET, and Roopa Roshan Sahoo, IAS—and two sons-in-law, Dr. Debashish Nayak, a senior cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon at Apollo Hospital, and Anup Kumar Sahoo, IPS. He also leaves behind three grandchildren—Rajin, Riddhi, and Kuhu—who cherish his legacy.

Swain’s demise marks the end of a life devoted to environmental stewardship, historical research, and community development. His contributions will continue to inspire generations to come.