Remembering Durga Charan Mishra: Odisha's Visionary Engineer and Spiritual River Guardian
The city of Bhubaneswar recently bid farewell to Durga Charan Mishra, a remarkable individual whose life transcended conventional professional boundaries. More than just a civil engineer who constructed significant edifices for the Odisha Police, Mishra dedicated his entire existence to a profound trinity: the river, nature, and spirituality. His passing on January 13 marks the loss of a true renaissance personality from Odisha.
A Foundation of Discipline and Academic Excellence
Born on May 2, 1965, Durga, as he was affectionately known, built his character from an early age. His educational journey began at Kakatpur High School, progressed through the hallowed halls of Ravenshaw College, and culminated at the Bhubanananda Orissa School of Engineering in Cuttack. His quest for knowledge was insatiable; he later qualified as an Associate Member of the Institution of Engineers (AMIE) and pursued further studies at KIIT University.
Those who knew him from his school days recall his defining traits: sobriety, discipline, and a consistently respectful demeanour. These were not mere youthful attributes but core values that he seamlessly wove into the fabric of his professional, personal, and social life.
A Distinguished Career in Public Service Engineering
In 1989, Durga Charan Mishra embarked on a storied career with the Odisha State Police Housing & Welfare Corporation (OPHWC). For over 36 years of dedicated service, he served the organization with unparalleled distinction, ultimately rising to the esteemed rank of Superintending Engineer.
Colleagues and superiors respected him deeply for his unwavering professional integrity and exceptional technical acumen. He played a pivotal role in constructing several crucial infrastructure projects for police personnel across the state. Among his most notable achievements is the award-winning and architecturally elegant Police Commissioner's building in Bhubaneswar. Mishra was personally in charge of its structural execution during its construction phase in 2009-2010, leaving an indelible mark on the city's skyline.
The Spiritual Seeker and Communicator
Parallel to his engineering career ran a deep, unwavering river of spiritual inquiry. Durga was a committed spiritual thinker who firmly believed in the power of self-knowledge and understanding others through the practice of meditation. His quest was for insight cultivation, rooted in the purification of both mind and body.
Inspired profoundly by the teachings of Gautam Buddha, he held the conviction that true realisation arises through meditation and must be diligently practised in everyday life to help alleviate sorrow and suffering. He found guidance in Bhante Ananda Bodhi of the Prajna Foundation, based in Badajharilo village on the banks of his beloved Prachi River.
Mishra was also a gifted spiritual communicator. He translated his profound learnings and insights into the written word, authoring two influential books: 'Manisha Dehe Dibya Gyana' (which won a literary award) and 'Adhyatmara Labha'. He was a regular contributor to Odia newspapers and journals and served as the editor of the quarterly spiritual magazine, Jeevan Sourav, published by the Prajna Foundation. His stature as a spiritual writer gained significant recognition when he contributed pieces to the widely-read 'Speaking Tree' column in The Times of India.
Quiet Compassion and Humanitarian Acts
His spirituality was not confined to thought and writing; it manifested in tangible acts of quiet kindness. From his own salary, Durga Charan Mishra discreetly supported poor and needy students. He extended his compassion to assist the elderly and residents of old-age homes in Kakatpur, Bhubaneswar, Balasore, and Soro. "Helping others is a man's duty," he once insightfully remarked, a principle he lived by every day.
The Tireless Champion of the Prachi River
Perhaps his most enduring and public legacy lies in his relentless campaign for the rejuvenation of the historic Prachi River. Deeply aware of its immense historical and cultural significance—believed to be over 1,000 years older than the Ganga—Mishra worked tirelessly to revive this forgotten waterway.
Under the banner of the Prachi Sanskrutika Samiti, he spearheaded numerous initiatives over the past 12 years, including:
- Organising the annual 'Prachi Parikrama' pilgrimage.
- Facilitating meetings of sadhus and saints to discuss the river's plight.
- Arranging community meals (Bhandara) to foster collective spirit.
- Raising critical environmental awareness about the river's degradation.
His sustained advocacy and aggressive persuasion were instrumental. They directly paved the way for the Odisha government to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) in 2021 for the river's rejuvenation, with a projected cost of Rs 298 crore. The campaign also received active support from Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi in 2022. Mishra's persistent efforts, widely covered in newspapers over the years, succeeded in bringing the Prachi River back into the public consciousness.
A Life Anchored in Purpose and Legacy
Durga Charan Mishra lived a life firmly anchored in purpose. His was a rare and beautiful confluence: professional excellence, deep spirituality, unwavering environmental commitment, and quiet, impactful compassion. His connection to the Prachi was poetic and complete; he was born on its bank, groomed his spiritual self on its bank, and ultimately worked for its resurrection.
He cultivated equanimity, demonstrated sagacity in all his endeavours, and practised genuine humanitarianism. Durga Charan Mishra will be remembered not just for the buildings he engineered or the articles he wrote, but for the countless lives he touched and the profound values he embodied—a true guardian of Odisha's heritage and humanity.
