Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, in true sense, is a multifaceted personality. As a media baron, politician and social activist, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik is a household name in Odisha. Apart from being the man who instituted the largest media house in the state, he has also championed various social causes such as promotion of Odia language and culture, spreading awareness and conducting massive blood donation drives.

He is widely regarded for his independent mindedness and path-breaking initiatives that opened up new era in the print media landscape in Odisha. He precedes Dipti Ranjan Patnaik as the Chairman of the Sambad Group – a 360 degree media house catering to all sections of the media content consumers.

An alumnus of the prestigious Ravenshaw University, Banaras Hindu University and University of Oxford, with over a decade-long teaching tenure, Patnaik is a mesmerising orator. His contagious youthful charm and exuberance have also made him an inspiration for the youth.

Tanaya Patnaik, who heads the print, radio, television and digital wings of Odisha’s no.1 media house, Sambad Group, is an alumnus of the prestigious Warwick Business School in England. She is extremely passionate about new media and has been pioneering the group’s foray into digital platforms. She identifies herself as a proud Odia and actively promotes Odia culture via Sambad Group’s various platforms.

Tanaya was instrumental in introducing ‘Street Store’ project concept in India for the first time in 2014.

She facilitated the ‘Sambad 100 Women Edit-a-thon’ aimed to create and edit biography articles of notable Odia women on Wikipedia in Odia and also orchestrated an exclusive open mic for women called ‘UNZIP’ to commemorate International Women’s Day which organizes innovative, women centric events.

Her very own monologue series ‘Pause with Tanaya Patnaik’ sheds light on various issues, personalities and places relatable to the current trends, along with Odia tradition and culture.

A fervent enthusiast within the realm of theatrical performances, she embarked on a creative endeavour by founding Choklate Productions. This venture bore fruit with the creation of a widely acclaimed play titled “Ahe Nilashaila.” Apart from Bhubaneswar, New Delhi and Bengaluru, the historical play was staged in Pilgrim Town Puri too during the inauguration of Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor project.

Dhrutikam Mohanty is a distinguished journalist, author, and academician whose career spans decades of impactful storytelling and media leadership. Currently serving as the Principal of the Sambad School of Media and Culture, he brings a wealth of experience and vision to the next generation of media professionals.

He began his journey as a freelance writer, gradually making his mark in mainstream journalism. His editorial acumen earned him key roles at Dharitri, where he served as Feature Head and later as Edition Head. His foray into national media saw him take on the role of Regional Editor at The Sunday Indian, a pan-Indian news magazine.

Mr. Mohanty’s association with the Sambad Group has been both dynamic and transformative. Over the years, he has held several pivotal positions, including Head of the Mahanagar Edition, Editor of Cine Sambad, Founder Head of sambad.in, and currently, Editor (Features) of Sambad.

As an author, Mr. Mohanty has penned several books, such as Gita Pachhara Gapa and Chalachitra Charccha in Odia, and Darkness at Noon in English. He also served as the editor of the Odia anthology Padachihna Panchastari, a collection of profiles of 75 legends of Odisha.

With a deep commitment to literature, cinema, and cultural discourse, Mr. Mohanty continues to inspire and mentor aspiring journalists and writers, leaving an indelible mark on the media landscape of Odisha and beyond.