Journalism in Odisha has been enriched with few personalities who significantly endorsed and championed the cause of humanity. Shantanu Biswal from Bargarh was one among them.
Biswal not only brought out the stories from the grassroot but dished out those stories to the readers at large with a significant dose of humanity.
He was well versed in representing the deep insight of any story and making the readers able to read between the lines. Biswal’s stories on Migration, farmers’ suicide, agrarian distress, Dhanu Yatra bear his unique stamp of journalism with human touch.
His concern for the upliftment of the last man in the society has been hall mark of new trend in journalism. Bisawll always tried to highlight the rich cultural, social and historical heritage of Wetsern Odisha.
His features in odisha.com , odisha.in, Eastern Press Agency Weekly, The New Indian express and Doordarshan on ‘Sulha Kuthi’ ‘Nrusinghnath’, frredom fighters imply his wide knowledge on cultural and social heritage of western Odisha.
He was closely associated with the literary and cultural events in and around Bargarh. I have had the priviledge of knowing him as he was closely associated with the father late Prof.Narayan Pruseth.
He used to frequently travel with my father to various places across the state. He was always ready to extend a helping hand to anyone who approach for help. I distinctly remember his kind gesture when I approached him few months back for my book ‘Valour in Veins’.
He not only provided many rare photos on freedom struggle and freedom fighters at Panimora, Ghenss, Bargarh and Khinda etc. He infact offered me to share al his rare collections of features and photos for a high quality book on the freedom struggle in western Odisha.
Shantanu Biswal will certainly be remembered for his unique contributions in enriching the journalism in Odisha.