PERSONAL DETAILS

Shailendra Kumar Jena was born on 16 June 1975 to Dushasana Jena and Sukabala Jena. His native place is Brahmansahi Village under Rajnagar Police Station, Badanaoukona Post Office, Kendrapara District, Odisha, PIN-754240. With an academic background in Geography and a professional career spanning education, administration and literature, he has developed a distinctive identity as an administrator as well as a creative writer.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Shailendra Kumar Jena began his formal education at Dasamanakula Nodal Primary School and subsequently studied up to Class V at Jagannath Primary School, Kolar. He continued his schooling at Jagannath High School, Kolar, Jeypore, up to Class VIII and thereafter completed his matriculation from N.A.C. (Steel Township) High School, Sector-20, Rourkela, during 1988-90. He completed his Higher Secondary education in Arts from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack, during 1990-92. He then pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Arts with Honours in Geography from Ravenshaw Autonomous College, Cuttack, during 1992-95. He obtained his Master’s degree in Geography from Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar, during 1995-97 and subsequently completed an M.Phil. in Geography from the same university during 1997-98. In 1998-99, he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Teacher Education from Radhanath Institute of Advanced Studies and Research in Education, Cuttack.

PROFESSIONAL LIFE

Shailendra Kumar Jena began his professional career in the field of education as a Geography Teacher at DAV Public School, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, where he served from 1999 to 2002. He subsequently served as a Postgraduate Teacher in Geography at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Satara, Maharashtra, during 2002-03, and at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Phukro Mao, Senapati, Manipur, during 2003-04. In 2005, he entered the Odisha Administrative Service and has since served in various administrative capacities in the Government of Odisha. At present, he is posted as Additional Secretary to Government in the Mission Shakti Department, where he continues to discharge important administrative responsibilities.

LITERARY ACHIEVEMENTS

Alongside his professional career, Shailendra Kumar Jena has made a notable contribution to contemporary Odia literature, particularly in the field of short-story writing. His stories draw upon human relationships, social realities, everyday experiences and the changing dimensions of contemporary life, reflecting a keen observation of society and human nature. His published collections of short stories include Chitrakhata (2015-16), published by Timepass, Bhubaneswar; Priyatama, Priyatama (2016-17) and Kagajaphula O Krushnachudara Sahara (2017-18), published by Paschima Publications; Chhata (2020-21), published by Srujan Publications, Bhubaneswar; Panjuri (2022-23), published by Srujan Sena/Shantisena, Jagatsinghpur; Gapa Kebe Sesha Huye Nahin (2024-25), published by Timepass, Bhubaneswar; and Parthenium (2024-25), published by Penguin Books. Through these works, he has established a distinctive literary voice and has contributed to the enrichment of contemporary Odia short-story literature.

AWARDS RECEIVED

In recognition of his literary contribution, Shailendra Kumar Jena has received several awards and honours from literary and cultural organisations. These include the Timepass Award in 2015, Aranya Bishuba Samman, Sundargarh, Katha Kalika Youth Promotion Award, Bhubaneswar, Sahitya Darpan Young Short-Story Writer Award, Jarka, Jajpur, Sukinda Sahitya Samaj Samman, Chaudhury Ajaya Sahu Memorial Samman, Bijayini Mohanty Memorial Gold Medal and Talapadeshwari Sahitya Samman, Vani Vihar. These recognitions acknowledge his contribution to Odia short-story writing and his sustained engagement with literary creativity alongside his career in public administration.