Dr. Er. Pravakar Swain is an eminent litterateur, engineer, educationist, organizer and social worker. He is alumni of National Institute of Technology (NIT) (Erstwhile R.E.C.), Rourkela 1975 batch retired as Engineer in Chief (Electrical) from the services of Government of Odisha. He served in different important positions including Secretary, Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission. He is the recipient of D.Sc. (Doctor of Science) (Honorius Causa), Biju Pattnaik University of Technology, Odisha.
He is a master builder of institutions to serve society. His hard efforts for last fifty years has helped propagate Odia literature and culture to different parts of India and abroad. He is Founder and Chairperson of Sarala Sahitya Sansad, the premier literary and cultural organisation of India. The Sansad (brainchild of Shri Swain) conducts national and international level literature and cultural seminars, recognizes eminent litterateurs and personalities. It has a posh auditorium, huge library, writers’ gallery and museum displaying tribal art, artifacts and rare cultural documents. In 1980s, he founded Baya Abadhut College imparting education in Arts and Science in Higher Secondary and Graduation courses. During the same period, he founded Oshamani High School (named after his mother Oshamani Swain) at village Lankapara in Tirtol block of Jagatsingpur district to provide quality education to the nearby students of rural society.
He is Founder and Chairperson of several prominent national and state level organisations like Indian Energy Congress, The Odisha Engineers Forum, Chelitola Cultural Academy, Santha Kabi Bhim Bhoi Memorial Society, Professor Pranakrushna Parija Memorial Society, Sarala Devi Memorial Society, Kuntala Kumari Sabat Foundation, Swabhava Kabi Gangadhar Meher Memorial Society etc. He also has founded Kshetrabasi Swain Memorial Library at village Lankapara, District Jagatsingpur named after his father Shri Kshetrabasi Swain. He has authored more than dozen books spreading across short stories, criticism, biography and translations and edited more than hundred books.
Below is the list of his works: Short stories collections
a. Yadayadahi Dhramasyab.
b. Punascha Hastinac.
c. Ketoti Katha
d. Shesa Hasa
Criticism and Collection of Essaysa.
a. Sarala Sahitya Bibidha Prasangab.
b. Bikhipta Bichitrac.
c. Utkal Vyasa Sarala Das
Biography
a. Bharata Ratna Sir Visveswarya
b. Adikabi Sarala Das
Translation from Hindi to Odia
a. Nirmala Vermanka Shrestha Galpa by Nirmal Verma
b. Mo Priya Kahani by Rajendra Yadav
c. Shrestha Kahani by Manu Bhandari
d. Sister You are Great by Giriraj Kishore
He is recipient of more than forty literary awards including the prestigious Sahitya Akademi (National Akademi of Letters, New Delhi) Award, Jhankara Bishuba Award, Utkala Sahitya Samaj Award, Adikabi Sarala Das Award (Rourkela), Santha Kabi Yashobanta Das Award, Rashtradeepa Award – highest literary award, Cuttack Municipal Corporation Literary Award etc.
He is formerly Senate Member of Ravenshaw University, former Trustee of Paradeep Port Trust and presently Member, Board of Management, Odisha University of Agricultural Technology, Chairman, Shailabala Autonomous Womens College, Cuttack and Member, Governing Body of DRIEMS University, Cuttack.
He is the founder of Adikabi Bhawan at Munigosain Matha, Jhankada, District Jagatsingpur named after Adikabi Sarala Das.