Our Founders
Phulashree Foundation carries forward the legacy of Late Phullara Nayak and Late Srihari Nayak — two educators from Odisha whose life's work continues through the Trust's charitable activities.
About Late Phullara Nayak
Smt Phullara Nayak took voluntary retirement from the Orissa Education Service (Class-I) in 1997. At the time of her retirement, she was a Reader in Philosophy at BJB College, Bhubaneswar. After completing her Master's Degree in Philosophy in 1962 from Ravenshaw College under Utkal University, she started her teaching career as a Lecturer in Logic and Philosophy the same year. During her long teaching career she taught students across premier educational institutions at graduate and post-graduate levels in the State of Odisha.
Apart from teaching, Smt Nayak was a prolific writer. Her works have been published by many publishers, including the Publications Division of the Government of India. Throughout her life, she worked for the promotion of education among the masses of Odisha.
Daughter of late freedom fighter Sri Kali Charan Parida of Sarupal Village, Nilgiri Block, Baleswar District, Late Phullara Nayak is survived by her son, Sri Sundeep Kumar Nayak, and daughters, Smt Sujata Swapna Nayak and Smt Sujata Ratna Agrawal, and the families of her children. She breathed her last on 26 April 2010 — just twelve days after founding the Trust.
About Late Srihari Nayak
Sri Srihari Nayak completed his Master's Degree in English in 1962 from Ravenshaw College under Utkal University and started his career as a Lecturer in English the same year. He joined the Orissa Administrative Service (OAS) in 1965 and served in various administrative, field and policy positions before being inducted into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1988. He retired from the IAS in 2001.
Born to Late Sanyasi Charan Nayak and Late Laxmipriya Nayak of Kota Charigan Village, Basta Block, Baleswar District, Sri Nayak was an icon of inspiration for poor young persons of North Baleswar to achieve success through selfless hard work. A prolific writer of short stories and poems in both English and Odia, he published extensively and wrote about a dozen books. He was the founder of Phulashree Foundation Trust, dedicated to social work.
He breathed his last on 3 February 2016. Late Srihari Nayak is survived by his son, Sri Sundeep Kumar Nayak, and daughters, Smt Sujata Swapna Nayak and Smt Sujata Ratna Agrawal, and the families of his children.
Their legacy today
The awards instituted by Phulashree Foundation at AIIMS Bhubaneswar and IIT Goa are given in memory of Late Phullara Nayak and Late Srihari Nayak, recognising outstanding students in the same spirit of education and public service that defined their lives. The Trust today is led by Smt. Alpana Nayak as President, alongside the Board of Trustees described on the About Us page.