Hrusikesh Panda (b.1955) is a well known fiction writer of Orissa. Though he has established himself as a composite artiste, he is noted primarily as a major writer of fiction in Oriya, for his intense understanding of rural and ethnic myths and situations, bold and authentic handling of social themes, original imagery, passionate humanism, his command over Oriya diction and idiom, and the sheer brilliance. Hrusikesh has published eight novels, eight collections of short stories and four plays. Besides he has written some essays on contemporary issues. He has made several short films, both feature and non-feature, for which he has composed the music. His educational qualification includes: M.Sc. in Chemistry, Diploma in Social Work, MBA from Australia, and Ph.D. in English [Relationship between Society and Literature: A Study in creative writing]. He topped the Indian Civil Services Examination 1979 and opted for Orissa as his workplace. Most of his career has been devoted to work for the poor and the disadvantaged. He has also worked with the Govt. of India in the Ministry of Textiles and in the Indian Parliament.