Laxminarayan College, Jharsuguda

About Laxminarayan College, Jharsuguda

Three decades ago almost at this time of the calendar the sincere most effort of some of the educational activities of an educationally backward area of Western Orissa was bearing fruit to bring about remarkable changes in the educational history of the state Jharsuguda, then a Tahasil of the undivided Sambalpur district was known as the Commercial Centre of Western Orissa. As a railway junction it was the link station between different parts of India & as such had an important position in the railway map. People from different parts of the country settled here. But to their utter disappointment it was without a college. So many of the meritorious but poor students of the locality had to remain as 'drops outs' after Matriculation. Consequently, a few local gentries in & around the town of Jharsuguda were inspired with the lofty dream of having an ideally unique college for the young and enthusiastic cravers of learning The fireless striving of illustrious personalities like Sri Ganesh Pro Patel, Late Sri Ishwari Prasad PateJ, Dr Narayan Shankar Behera, Sri Hemananda Biswal, the then Panchanyat Samiti Chairman, Jharsuguda coupled with the kind co-operation of Sri Murari Prasad Mishra, the then Forest Minisler of Orissa, Laxmi Narayan College came into being with the inaugural ceremony solemnised on the 18 August 1969 in the august presence of Dr A N. Khosla, the then Governor of Orissa, Late Sri R. N. Singhdeo, the then Chief Minister of the State, Late Sri Harihar Patel, the then Industry Minister, Govt. of Orissa, Late Sri Banamali Patnaik the then Education Minister, Govt. of Orissa and other gentlemen. The Ministry 01" Industry was kind enough to handover the unfinished hostel building of the Engineering School to be used as the college building with a token rent of one rupee per annum. The authorities of the Engineering School were magnanimous enough to extend their co-operation by way of lending furniture and all owing some of their teachers to take classes in the college. They further displayed their generosity in allowing our science students to carryon practical classes in their laboratories

Gradually, L. N. CoIlege started growing with new leaves, buds, flowers and fruits under the tender care of father figures like Prof. P. C. Mohapatra, the first Principal, Central Sahitya Akademy Award-Winner laureate Sri Binod Chandra Naik and others. The honour of being the First President (ex-officio) goes to Sri S. N. Panda O.A.S, SDO, Sambalpur. In 1975, Dr Krupasindhu Bhoi, the then Minister of Mines granted a sum of One Lakh to construct a hostel building Presently, consequent upon our handing over, the building is with the Collector. Presently it is a full-fledged aided institution of the Govt. institution of the Govt. of Orissa capable, of producing hundreds of responsible citizens every year. With thousands of students and hundred of employees in its fold it imparts teaching in Arts, Science and Commerce both in + 2 and + 3 stage with Honours teaching facilities in almost all branches of the above streams.

We know, money matters much in our life. Thus we are sincere in opening courses, which will enable students to earn while they learn. But money is not the 'be all' and 'end all' of life. Thus the institution is on a path to make 'man'.
It has improved, is improving and ought to improve and this solely depends on the integrity and discipline of the student community, sincerity and honesty of the members of the staff and ungrudging support and whole hearted co-operation of the locality is general. May the Lord Almighty bless us in making our Alma Mater more stately and benign.