Born on 01.01.1916 at village Kashibahal in the then princely  state of Kalahandi. Early education at Bhawanipatna, passed his  matriculation in 1935. He had his B.Sc.(Hons), Physics from Revenshaw  College, Cuttack in 1939. Obtained B.Sc.(Engg.) Hons. degree in Civil  Engineering in 1943 from Bihar College of Engg. Patna. After an  apprenticeship in Government of Orissa, Works Department and the  Irrigation Dept. of the then princely state of Mysore, in the Jog Hydro  Power Project joined as an Asst. Engineer with special charge of  irrigation under the Kalahandi, Darbar in Feb. 1945.

He came across the perennial Indravati flowing across the Thuamul  Rampur Plateau of Kalahandi, a tributary of Godavari running parallel to  the Eastern Ghats. He visualised that the diversion of the river  Indravati to Hati River will create an artificial water fall from a height  of 2000 feet which will generate hydropower and will also provided  perennial water supply for irrigation. He prepared a preliminary scheme  and submitted the same to the Maharaja for his consideration. The  Maharaja was enhrilled with his work.
 

• Late Prof. Behera was selected by Govt. of India as a post war  reconstruction scholar for higher studies abroad obtained Masters degree  from the state university of IOWA, USA in 1947.
• Joined Kalahandi State Government as Irrigation Engineer in 1947 on  merger of the princely state of Kalahandi into Orissa in 1948.
• Late  Prof. Behera was deputed to work in the Hirakud Dam Project where he  worked as Asst. Engineerr and Executive Engineer till 1956.
• Joined the  University College of Engineering, Burla and become Professor, Civil  Engineering in 1958. Late Prof Behera became the Principal of University  College of Engineering, Burla in 1961.
• Joined Regional Engineering College, Rourkela in Feb. 1962 as its  first principal and remained till 1971.
• He was appointed as Vice-chancellor, Sambalpur University in 1971,  remained till 1976.
• In 1977, Govt. of India sent him to the Democratic Republic of  Liberia in West Africa as an Advisor for Technical Education.
• Later  appointed as member of Das Committee by Govt. of Orissa to recommend  establishment of Colleges in Orissa.
• He also worked as Member, Orissa  State Planning Board. He joined as Member of the Union Public Service  Commission and remained till 1981.

Behind every great personality there is usually a lady behind and  in the case of Late Prof. Behera the good old lady was Late Uma Devi who  has enriched the family tradition by their illustrious  daughter: Dr. Yashodhara Mishra and three sons: one a Doctor, one an IPS  Officer and the other an IRTS.

• His essay book "Suna Parikshya" earned him Orissa Sahitya Academy  Award and his novel "Gaonro Daka" earned him the prestigious "Sarala  Award".
• He also has bagged the "Sarala Sanman" and "Prajatantra Prachar  Samity Essay Award".
• The Utkal Pathak Sansad, Cuttack has conferred on  him "Sahitya Sudhakar" title.
• Sambalpur University and Utkal University  have conferred on him Doctorate of Science(Honoris Causa) degree.
• He is  also the recipient of "Utkal Ratna" in 1998.
• He has authored 8 books and  several research papers.

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