40 Remarkable First in Odisha: Personalities, Historic Events & Iconic Structures

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Odisha, a land of ancient temples, stunning beaches, and rich culture, is also home to many pioneers who achieved remarkable “firsts.” These trailblazers—spanning education, politics, arts, sports, and more—have shaped Odisha’s legacy and inspired generations.

This blog celebrates their achievements in a way that’s easy for students to understand and appreciate. Let’s explore Odisha’s incredible “firsts” and the names behind them!

This is crucial for all upcoming OPSC, ASO, OSSC, OSSSC, CT, BED, OTET, and OPSC preliminary examinations. Here, we are giving the complete study material of ‘First in Odisha: Personalities, Events, Structure and State Symbols’ that will ease the journey of aspirants to crack competitive examinations like OPSC and other state-level examinations.

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First in Odisha: Personalities, Events, Structure and State Symbols’

First in Odisha: Trailblazers Who Made History

First Graduate & Post Graduate: Sri Madhusudan Das
Known as “Utkala Gouraba” (Pride of Odisha), Madhusudan Das was the first Odia to earn a graduate degree and a postgraduate degree. He also became Odisha’s first advocate, breaking barriers in education and law during British rule.

First Medical Graduate: Dr. Surendra Narayan Acharya
Dr. Acharya paved the way for medical education in Odisha, becoming the first Odia to graduate in medicine and inspiring future doctors.

First Engineering Graduate: Madhab Chandra Pattnaik
With his engineering degree, Madhab Chandra Pattnaik laid the foundation for Odisha’s technical progress.

First Women’s College: Sailabala Women’s College
Established to empower women through education, this was Odisha’s first college dedicated to female students.

First Woman Graduate: Narmada Kar
Narmada Kar broke gender norms as the first Odia woman to earn a graduate degree, inspiring countless others.

Leaders in Governance and Politics First in Odisha

First Governor: Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab
A freedom fighter and visionary, Dr. Mahtab became Odisha’s first Governor and also served as its first Central Minister.

First Woman Chief Minister: Smt. Nandini Satapathy
In 1972, Nandini Satapathy made history as Odisha’s first female Chief Minister, proving women could lead with strength.

First Odia Lok Sabha Speaker: Rabi Ray
Rabi Ray’s leadership in Parliament marked him as the first Odia to hold this prestigious role.

First Odia ICS Officer: Nilamani Senapati
Nilamani Senapati was the first Odia to join the Indian Civil Service, a milestone in administrative excellence.

First Woman IAS Topper: Rupa Mishra
Rupa Mishra topped the IAS exams, becoming a role model for aspiring civil servants from Odisha.

Trailblazers in Arts and Literature First in Odisha

First Autobiography Writer: Fakir Mohan Senapati
Known as the father of modern Odia literature, Fakir Mohan Senapati wrote the first Odia autobiography, leaving a lasting legacy.

First Odia Poet: Mahakabi Sarala Das
Sarala Das, a 15th-century poet, was the first to write epic poetry in Odia, earning him the title “Mahakabi.”

First Odia Novelist: Ram Shankar Ray
Ram Shankar Ray introduced the novel form to Odia literature, enriching its storytelling tradition.

First Jnanpith Awardee: Gopinath Mohanty
Gopinath Mohanty’s powerful writing earned him the first Jnanpith Award for an Odia author in 1973.

First Woman Author to Win Sahitya Akademi: Smt. Binapani Mohanty
Binapani Mohanty’s literary brilliance made her the first Odia woman to receive this prestigious award.

Cinema and Media Milestones First in Odisha

First Odia Feature Film: Sita Bibaha (1936)
Directed by Mohan Sundar Deb Goswami, this was Odisha’s first feature film, marking the start of Odia cinema.

First Color Odia Film: Gapa Helebi Sata (1976)
This film brought vibrant colors to Odia screens for the first time.

First Cinema Hall: Sitaram Vilas Talkies (Berhampur)
Odisha’s first cinema hall opened in Berhampur, giving people a new way to enjoy entertainment.

First Newspaper: Utkal Deepika
Launched in 1866, Utkal Deepika was Odisha’s first newspaper, spreading news and ideas.

First Woman Television Newsreader: Sanghamitra Kanoongo
Sanghamitra Kanoongo broke into the male-dominated media world as Odisha’s first female TV newsreader.

Sports and Adventure Heroes First in Odisha

First Odia International Cricketer: Debasish Mohanty
Debasish Mohanty bowled his way into history as Odisha’s first cricketer to play for India.

First Odia Everest Mountaineer: Chetana Sahu
Chetana Sahu conquered Mount Everest, becoming the first Odia to achieve this feat.

First Odia Arjuna Awardee: Minati Mohapatra
Minati Mohapatra’s excellence in sports earned her the first Arjuna Award for an Odia athlete.

Science and Innovation First in Odisha

First Odia Professor: Prof. Pranakrushna Parija
A renowned botanist, Prof. Parija was the first Odia professor and also received the Padma Bhushan.

First Odia Astrologer: Samanta Chandrasekhar
Samanta Chandrasekhar’s astronomical discoveries made him Odisha’s first notable astrologer.

First Woman Engineer: Sudhira Das
Sudhira Das broke stereotypes as Odisha’s first female engineer, inspiring women in STEM.

Breaking Gender Barriers First in Odisha

First Woman Pilot: Giribala Mohanty
Giribala Mohanty soared high as Odisha’s first female pilot.

First Woman Barrister: Urmila Ray
Urmila Ray fought for justice as the first Odia woman barrister.

First Woman Physician: Dr. Kuntala Kumari Sabat
Dr. Sabat healed lives as Odisha’s first female doctor.

First Woman IPS Officer: Sowmya Mishra
Sowmya Mishra upheld law and order as Odisha’s first woman IPS officer.

Infrastructure and Institutions First in Odisha

First College: Ravenshaw College, Cuttack (1868)
This iconic institution was Odisha’s first college, shaping countless leaders.

First Medical College: SCB Medical College, Cuttack (1944)
SCB Medical College became Odisha’s first center for medical education.

First River Dam: Hirakud Dam
Built on the Mahanadi River, Hirakud was Odisha’s first major dam, revolutionizing irrigation and power.

First Port: Chandipur
Chandipur Port marked Odisha’s entry into maritime trade.

First Superfast Train: Konark Express (BBSR to Mumbai)
This train connected Odisha to the rest of India with speed and pride.

Why These Firsts Matter

These pioneers didn’t just achieve personal success—they opened doors for others. From Madhusudan Das fighting for Odisha’s identity to Nandini Satapathy leading the state, their stories show that determination can change history. For students, these “firsts” are a call to dream big and aim high.

Conclusion

Odisha’s “firsts” are a treasure trove of inspiration. Whether it’s climbing Everest, writing novels, or building dams, these achievers prove that Odisha is a land of talent and courage. So, next time you think of your state, remember these names—they’re the ones who put Odisha on the map!

First in Odisha	Name of Achievers
First Advocate	Sri Madhusudan Das
First Ambassador	Lalitendu Mansingh
First Autobiography Writer	Fakir Mohan Senapati
First Air Marshal	Saroj Jena
First Awarded Gyanapitha	Gopinath Mohanty
First Governor	Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab
First A. I. R.	A. I. R., Cuttack (1948)
First Central Minister	Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab
First Chief Justice of S Court	Ranganath Mishra
First Cinema Hall of Odisha	Sitaram Vilas Talkies (Berhampur)
First Color Odia Film	Gapa Helebi Sata (1976)
First Odia feature Film	Sita Bibaha (1936)
First Cinemascope Odia Film	Hisab Nikas (1982)
First Cinemascope Odia Film	Swapna Sagar (1983)
First Silver Julee Hit Odia Film	Puja
First Hindi Film Produced	Hodh- 1979 (Sitakanta Mishra)
First Odia Director Hindi Film	Prasanta Nanda
First Odia Video Film	Bahini
First Film studio of Odisha	Kalinga Studio, Bhubaneswar
First College of Odisha	Ravenshaw College, Cuttack (1868)
First Medical College	Sreeram Chandra Bhanja Medical College, Cuttack (1944)
First Engineering College	University College of Engineering, Burla (1956)
First Private Engineering College	Orissa Engineering College, BBS (1986)
First Engineering School	Bhubanananda Orissa School of Engineering, Cuttack (1923)
First Women’s College	Sailabala Women’s College
First High School of Odisha	Cuttack Collegiate School
First Girl’s High School	Ravenshaw Girl’s School, Cuttack
First Odia doctorate degree	Choudhury Jagannatha Das
First Post Graduate	Sri Madhusudan Das
First Graduate of Odisha	Sri Madhusudan Das
First Medical Graduate	Dr. Surendra Narayan Acharya
First Engineering Graduate	Madhab Chandra Pattnaik
First Essay written in Odia	Bibeki (Late Radhanath Ray)
First Odia LokSabha Speaker	Rabi Ray
First Odia Astrologer	Samanta Chandrasekhar
First Odia Freedom Fighter	Veera Surendra Sae
First Odia Poet	Mahakabi Sarala Das
First Odia Professor	Prof. Pranakushna Parija
First Lecturer	Kashinath Das (Dept. of Sanskrit, Ravenshaw College)
First Odia Novelist	RamShankar Ray
First Odia International cricket playe	Debasish Mohanty
First Odia IFS	Kumari Sanjukta Pattnaik
First Odia Air Marshal	Sri Saroj Jena
First Odia Everest Mountaineer	Chetana Sahu
First Odia Arjuna Awardees	Minati Mohapatra
First Odia Film Made 15 Languages	Jai Jagannath (2007)
81 Songs in Odia Film	Basanta Rasa (1984)
First Odia Police Commissioner	Srikrushna Mohapatra
First Padmabhusana Awardees	Prof. Pranakrushna Parija
First Odia Foreign Justice	Lalitendu Maansingh
First Odia American Ambassador	Lalitendu Maansingh
First District Collector	Jatindra Nath Mohanty
First Odia Padmashree Awardees	Laxminarayan Sahu (For Education)
First Odia Political Prisoner	Rajakrushna Bose
First Odia Law Graduate	Biswanath Mishra
First Jamunalal Bajaj Awardees	Ramadevi Choudhury
First Odia ICS Officer	Nilamani Senapati
First Odia Foreign Traveler	Sri Madhusudan Das
First woman Chief Minister	Smt. Nandini Satapathy
First woman Commissioner	Ranu Mishra
First woman Minister of Odisha	Basanta Manjari Devi
First woman Pilot of Odisha	Giribala Mohanty
First woman Barrister of Odisha	Urmila Ray
First woman Director of Odia film	Parvati Ghosh
First woman Physician of Odisha	Dr. Kuntala kumari Sabat
First woman Surgeon of Odisha	Dr. Jyotsna Devi
First woman MLA of Odisha	Sarala Devi
First woman cricket Trainee	Ranjeeta Mohanty
First woman English Film actor	Dr. Jyotsna Devi
First woman Europe traveler	Rama Devi
First woman Politician of Odisha	Rama Devi
First woman IAS topper of Odisha	Rupa Mishra
First woman Television Newsreader	Sanghamitra Kanoongo
First woman Hindi film actor	Dolly Jena
First woman Bengali film actor	Mahashweta Ray
First woman Director Radio Centre	Veena Devi
First woman IPS officer of Odisha	Sowmya Mishra
First woman Poet of Odisha	Sulakshana Devi
First woman graduate of Odisha	Narmada Kar
First woman college Lecturer	Nirmala Nayak
First Rajyasabha member of Odisha	Nandini Satapathy
First woman IAS of Odisha	Pragnya Paramita Das
First woman Justice of High Court	Amiya Kumari Padhi
First woman Engineer of Odisha	Sudhira Das
First woman Author to receive Sahitya Acadamy Award	Smt. Binapani Mohanty
First Jute Mill of Odisha	Konark Jute Mill
First Television Centre	Doordarshan, Sambalpur
First Superfast Train of Odisha	Konark Express (BBSR to Mumbai)
First Newspaper of Odisha	Utkal Deepika
First Port of Odisha	Chandipur
First Paper Factory of Odisha	Brajaraj Nagar
First Printing Press of Odisha	Utkal Printing Press
First River Dam of Odisha	Hirakud
First Daily Newspaper	Dainika Asha
First Odia Periodical	Gyanaruna