Dr Achyuta Samanta Conferred Honorary Citizenship by Romanian Town, Receives Multiple International Honours

Dr. Achyuta Samanta, an esteemed educationist and social reformer, was awarded honorary citizenship of Milișăuți, Romania, on September 21st, 2026. This prestigious recognition is bestowed upon towns in Romania only to those they trust completely. Samanta, the founder of KIIT, KISS, and KIMS, was also presented with the Key to the City of Bârlad, making him the first Odia to receive such honors from two Romanian municipalities.

The award signifies the deep respect and appreciation the towns have for his lifelong contributions to education, social development, and humanitarian service.

During his visit to Bârlad, Samanta was accompanied by Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra, Ambassador of India to Romania. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome he received in both Milișăuți and Bârlad, stating that the love and warmth from these cities would remain close to his heart.

Samanta was also honored with the 'Leader of the Year' award at the CEEMAN Champions Awards 2026, recognizing his outstanding contributions to education, social development, humanitarian service, and institution building. The award was presented at the 34th CEEMAN Annual Conference in Romania. A representative of Samanta received the accolade on his behalf.

Furthermore, Samanta received FIDE’s 'Education Philanthropic Award' at the Summit on Chess in Education in Uzbekistan on September 24th, 2026, during the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad and Congress. The award, presented by Viswanathan Anand and Dana Reizniece, acknowledges his lifetime contributions to sports and education. FIDE, KIIT, and KISS subsequently signed a memorandum of understanding to expand their Chess in Education initiatives.

In addition to these international honors, Dr. Samanta received four other accolades during the 45th World Congress of Poets held in Pristina, Kosovo. These include the 'Mother Teresa Award', 'Professor Honoris Causa' from AAB University College, Pristina, 'Recognition from the City of Peja', and a 'Medal of the President of the World Congress of Poets'.