List of Khandayats

Below is a list of people from the Khandayat community from Odisha in Media, Politics, Industry, Literature, Academics, and Religion

Media

 * Biren Routray, veteran Ollywood actor, acting in many movies including Hisab Nikas


 * Elina Samantray, recent Ollywood actress


 * Samaresh Routray, Ollywood actor, television personality and producer appearing in more than 30 Odia films. Also the director of Music company, OdiaOne.


 * Swora Arabinda Muduli, famous classical musician who is known for devotional bhajans of Lord Jagannath.


 * Bhajan Samrat Bhikari Bal, most famous devotional mantra and bhajan singer of Odisha.


 * Archita Sahu, one of the leading actress in Ollywood


 * Barsha Priyadarshini, one of the leading actress for long time in Ollywood
 * Bijaya Jena, Model, Actress, and director

Politics

 * Utkal Keshari Dr. Harekrushna Mahatab (INC). Born into an aristocratic Khandayat family, he became a freedom fighter and the first Chief Minister of Odisha


 * Bakshi Jagabandhu, one of the greatest freedom fighters and commander for King forces in Khurda, who sparked off the Paik Rebellion against British Rule in 1817


 * Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, incumbent statutory head of Puri Royal Family. Considered by the devotees as Adhyasevak of Lord Jagannath.


 * Nilamani Routray, (Janata Party), was one of the chief ministers of Odisha.


 * Veer Surendra Sai, one of India's greatest freedom fighters from Odisha


 * Srikant Kumar Jena, Former Union Minister and Congress leader.


 * Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, BJD leader and MP from Balangir district.


 * Sir Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo, Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE), last princely ruler of Patna State in Odisha, and one of the chief ministers of Odisha.


 * Binod Kanungo, renowned Odia author, veteran freedom fighter, educator, social reformer and Gandhian. Also one of pioneering journalists for the The Samaja


 * Arkesh Singh Deo, BJD leader. Grandson of late Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo.


 * Manmohan Samal, BJP State President


 * RP Swain, BJD minister.


 * Rabi Ray, First Odia to be speaker of Loksabha.


 * Baishnab Charan Parida, social activist, writer, and BJD MP for Lok Sabha. Famous for trying to bring the Odisha Official Language Act of 1954.


 * Bhartruhari Mahtab, BJD leader and MP of 16th Lok Sabha from Cuttack constituency.

Literature

 * Utkal Vyasa Kabi Fakir Mohan Senapati, one of Odisha greatest poets. Considered the father of Odia Nationalism and literature.


 * Sarala Das, also known as Sideshwar Parida, is the first recorded Odia poet and scholar to write in Odia. Translated Ramayana and Mahabharata from Sanskrit into Odia.


 * Pratibha Ray, one of leading contemporary writers who has written much on the issues of feminism and social issues of Odisha.


 * Gopal Chhotray, considered one of the chief architects of modern Odia Theatre.


 * Natabar Samantaray, Odia Literary critic. Did critical reviews of the works of writers such as *Fakir Mohan Senapati and Radhanath Ray.


 * Sachidananda Routray, a prolific writer and poet. Received the Jnanpith Award, highest literary honor in India.


 * Madhusudan Rao, Odia poet in the colonial times. Also known as Bhaktakabi (trans. Religious Poet).

Academics

 * Bhanu Pratap Jena, American cellular biologist, distinguished professor from Wayne State University, famous for the discovery of porosome.


 * Achyuta Samanta, academician, and ounder of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT); Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), and Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS).


 * Kamalakanta Jena, famous physicist, writer, and scientific journalist. Received many awards in regards to pursuit of superlative science.