Arabinda Kumar Padhee - 'Part 2: Hindu Mass Gatherings'

Arabinda Kumar Padhee is presently working as the Indian Country Director of ICRISAT, a nonprofit and non-political organisation that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. He has a Master’s degree in Agricultural Science from Banaras Hindu University and a PhD from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. He also holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Birmingham, UK. He has taken public policy courses at the University of Toronto; Civil Services College, Singapore; and the University of Cambridge at various points in his career.

Dr Padhee joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1996 and belongs to Odisha cadre. He has held various important positions in both provincial and federal Governments, some of which include District Magistrate and Collector; Director, Agriculture and Food Production; Revenue Divisional Commissioner; Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Tourism and Culture Department, Government of Odisha and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India. During his tenure as Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple, Dr Padhee initiated and implemented several reforms in the 12th-century shrine that won him many accolades. He has edited a book titled, ‘Nabakalebara: an Archival Document” on the grand festival of Lord Jagannatha at Puri.

Some of the notable awards and citations Dr Padhee has received during his career in the Indian Civil Service include the Best Collector & District Magistrate award (2003-04) and the National Award for contribution to humanitarian services given by the Indian Red Cross Society (2006-07). He was recognised with the AIASA National Award for outstanding Leadership in Agriculture for the year 2016. Dr Padhee regularly writes popular articles/OpEds around issues related to agriculture and food policies and climate change.

Follow Dr Arabinda on Twitter: @arvindpadhee