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Dr. Achyuta Samanta of KIIT & KISS, Honored with Honorary Doctorate from University of Buckingham

Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT & KISS, was honored with an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Buckingham.

Pushpender Yadav

Apr 15, 2025 — 3 min read

Dr. Achyuta Samanta of KIIT & KISS, was honored with an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Buckingham. Let’s talk about a big win for a guy who’s been changing lives left and right. Dr. Achyuta Samanta, the brain behind KIIT and KISS, just bagged his 65th honorary doctorate—this time from the University of Buckingham, UK, on April 10, 2025. That’s not a typo—65 doctorates! The man’s a legend for his education and social service work, and I’m stoked to break it down for you.

For 33 years, Dr. Samanta’s been grinding to make the world better. He started KIIT (Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology) and KISS (Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences) from scratch in Bhubaneswar, turning them into powerhouses. KIIT’s a top-tier university, while KISS gives free education to over 40,000 tribal kids—talk about impact. Buckingham, a prestigious 50-year-old institution and the UK’s only independent university with a Royal Charter, gave him a Doctor of Science (honoris causa) for transforming lives through education and community work. Dame Mary Archer, the Chancellor, and Prof. James Tooley, Vice-Chancellor, were there cheering him on.

Dr. Samanta’s story is wild. Born in a small Odisha village, he lost his dad at four and faced serious struggles. Still, he earned a Master’s and a legit doctorate, then built KIIT and KISS with just Rs. 5,000 in 1992. They’re global names, hosting Nobel laureates and big shots like ex-presidents and PMs. His 65 doctorates from universities worldwide scream how much he’s respected. “This is a cherished milestone,” he said, thanking Buckingham for the nod.

Honoured to receive my 65th Honorary Doctorate from the University of Buckingham, a 50-year-old prestigious institution in London. The Chancellor & Vice-Chancellor appreciated my service to education, tribal empowerment & the underprivileged through KIIT & KISS.
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— Achyuta Samanta (@achyuta_samanta) April 10, 2025

The X vibe is buzzing with pride. @achyuta_samanta posted, “Honoured to receive my 65th Honorary Doctorate… The Chancellor & Vice-Chancellor appreciated my service to education, tribal empowerment & the underprivileged through KIIT & KISS.” Others chimed in: @Kalingatv called it a “proud moment,” while @ssamantaray6 hailed his “remarkable contributions.” Check the buzz at X posts.

Wanna dig deeper?

Check KIIT’s official site or KISS’s page for more on his work: buckingham.ac.uk. For news, Telegraph India and Metrovaartha have the scoop. Dr. Samanta is not slowing down; honestly, it’s inspiring. From a tiny village to global recognition, he proves you can move mountains with grit and heart. Do you have thoughts on this? Drop ’em below—I’m all ears.