RAYAGADA
THE PARADISE UNEXPLORED
Famous Personalities
Ritesh Agarwal
Ritesh Agarwal was brought up in Rayagada, an Indian billionaire entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Oyo Rooms. He became the world's second-youngest billionaire in the year 2020. Ritesh Agarwal is also a recipient of the Business World Young Entrepreneur Award. As of February 2020, he is the second-youngest self-made billionaire in the world.
Purnachandra Bidika
Purnachandra Bidika is a Powerlifter from Odisha who won 4 gold medals in the 2006-World Power Lifting Championship. Bidika hails from an adivasi family of Rayagada, Odisha. The Chief Minister of Odisha has made financial assistance of Rs.2 lakhs for his participation in an international event.
Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi
Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi. was an Odissi music Guru, vocalist, composer, and music director. A noted singer of the Gita Govinda. He also sang in popular Telugu movies like Ilavelupu and Jayabheri. He left a promising career in film music in Chennai to provide vocal support to his wife, Sanjukta Panigrahi, a legendary Odissi performer and composer. He also sang for few Odia and Kannada movies. He made a lifetime contribution of promoting, propagating, and popularizing the life and works of Jayadeva and the cult of Lord Jagannath.
Maa Shanti Devi
Well-known social worker of Odisha Shanti Devi was conferred with India’s third highest civilian honour Padma Shri. She is famous for her contribution towards restoring peace in the Maoist affected areas in Odisha. Shanti Devi, who leads voluntary organization Seva Samaj for imparting education to the tribal girls to make all girls self sufficient, so that they can live with self-respect in the society. She also founded an ashram for leprosy patients at Jabarguda under Padmapur block in Rayagada district.