Early Life
edit- Sikhareswar Jena, one of the decorated Fire Engineers of Odisha, was born in village, Baladiabandha,8 KM from Dhenkanal Town, Odisha on 3rd January 1934, third child of the six children of Late Gouranga Charan Jena and Late Kali Jena. After passing matriculation from his alma mater, B.B. High School, Dhenkanal, he had studied in Ravenshaw College and later in Christ College, Cuttack. During his college days, he joined Fire Department as Station Fire Officer on 7th February,1955. During his service under Odisha Government, he completed his Graduate degree in Fire Engineering successfully from National Fire Service College, Nagpur under Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India [1].He was married to Mrs Jamuni Jena.
Professional activities
editHe had risen to the highest technical rank in Odisha Fire service, and continued as State Fire Officer,Odisha(later rechristened as Chief Fire Officer vide Govt. of Odisha Order No.1228/CD dt.25.11.10),looking after administration of Odisha Fire service for nearly a decade [2]. He was responsible for development of State Fire Training Institute,Baramunda, Bhubaneswar, Odisha both functionally and infrastructure-wise during its formative period, serving as Principal (Fire Officer) for two terms[3] As State Fire Officer, Odisha during eighties, he was responsible for setting of a number of Fire Stations in rural hinterland of Odisha to provide fire services at doorstep, to name a few, Balijhari, Banki, Daspala etc.The Fire Stations were hitherto confined to District Headquarters and subdivisional Headquarters.The concept of rural Fire Stations was pioneered and espoused by him,being instrumental in implementing the same.This had then impacted the lives of common folk of Odisha where majority of people used to live countryside and fire was the major hazard in villages,causing loss of lives and property.[4] He was the first Fire Officer to be awarded President’s Medal for Meritorious service in the year 1980 on the occasion of Republic Day in Odisha vide GoI President's Sectt. Notification no.18- Pres./80 dated 26th Jan 1980,[5] available on the websites of DG,Fire Services,Civil Defence and Home Guards,Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India and Odisha Fire Service on list of awardees[6]. He was responsible for both leadership and modernization of Odisha Fire Service during eighties, being Fire Officer, Odisha. His talks on fire prevention and fire-fighting were periodically organised in All India Radio,Cuttack and local Doordarshan in eighties.
Socio-cultural activities
editHe was also a social activist, ensuring the transfer of land and for setting up Gourang Charan Vidyapitha,(only co-educational High School) at Baladiabandha. He similarly donated land and funds for establishment of temple of Lord Shiva, named Sikhareswar Temple, a non-profitable endeavour. This temple ,situated beside NH-55 in Baladiabandha is the epicentre of religio-cultural development of the area. After his superannuation from Odisha Government on 31st January 1992, he was active in all socio-cultural activities.He passed away in his home, G.S Bhawan, Kunjakanta, Dhenkanal in wee hours on 31st July 1994.