User:P31pratyusha/sandbox

Debasish "Deboo" Patnaik
Debasish "Deboo" Patnaik
Born	October 13, 1961 (age 63); Cuttack, Odisha, India
Nationality	Indian
Education	BJB College, Utkal University, XIMB
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, Angel Investor, Historian
Known for	Founder of Dalma (restaurant chain), chronicler of Bhubaneswar
Spouse	Aruna Mohanty
Children	1

Debasish "Deboo" Patnaik (born 13 October 1961) is an Indian entrepreneur, angel investor, hospitality leader, and city historian, best known as the founder of the Odia cuisine restaurant chain Dalma. He has significantly contributed to the culinary, entrepreneurial, and cultural ecosystem of Odisha.^[1] Patnaik is also known for documenting the history of Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha, through his writing and public initiatives.^[2]

Early life and education

Debasish Patnaik was born in 1961 in Cuttack, Odisha, to Ashutosh Prasad Patnaik, a government employee and historian, and Basanta Lata Patnaik, an academician. In 1964, the family relocated to Bhubaneswar, where Patnaik grew up.

He completed his schooling at Capital High School, Bhubaneswar in 1976, followed by a degree from BJB College in 1980. He later earned a Master's degree and an LLB from Utkal University in 1983, and completed an MBA from Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB) in 1991.

Career

Communication and hospitality

Patnaik began his career by founding a communication agency, Creative Consultants Pvt. Ltd. He later entered the hospitality sector as Promoter Director of Hotel Crown, a leading three-star hotel in Bhubaneswar.

Dalma and Odia cuisine

Patnaik is widely recognized for founding Dalma, the first organized Odia cuisine restaurant chain, which popularized traditional Odia dishes across India. The initiative is credited with bringing Odia culinary heritage into mainstream Indian cuisine.^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]

Startup ecosystem and angel investing

In 2010, Patnaik joined a government delegation to the United States, where he connected with The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Global. He was instrumental in launching the TiE Odisha chapter in 2011 and served as its President for six years.^[7] During this period, he mentored startups and became one of Odisha’s earliest angel investors.

He has invested in several ventures including FarEye, a nationally recognized logistics startup. Patnaik also serves as the Chairman of the Bhubaneswar Angel Trust, the first angel investor network in the state. He has been a member of the Startup Odisha Task Force and Odisha State Tourism Advisory Board.

Contributions to Urban History

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Patnaik began chronicling the history of Bhubaneswar, India's first post-Independence planned city. His extensive research led to the publication of his first book: BBI: Bhubaneswar Completes Seventy-five Years on 19 August 2024.^[8]^[9]^[10]

Personal life

Patnaik married renowned Odissi dancer Aruna Mohanty in 1986. They have one daughter, Spandana Patnaik, born in 1995, who earned her Master’s degree from the London Film School.

References

^ "Taste of Odisha". The Weekend Leader. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
^ "City Growth in Stark Contrast to Planner's Vision". Times of India. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
^ "Odia Cuisine Backbone of Indian Culture". BW Hotelier. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
^ "Melting Pot Dalma". Odisha Bytes. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
^ "Dalma Samples to Leave Delhi". The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
^ "Talking Odia: How Odisha Cuisine is Making its Presence Felt Internationally". IREC Wire. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
^ "Deboo Patnaik Takes President TiE Bhubaneswar Chapter". Odisha Live. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
^ "Coffee Table Book Depicting 75 Years Journey of Bhubaneswar Launched". Odisha Plus. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
^ "Memoirs of City's Development: From Open Spaces to High-Rises". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
^ "BBI Echoes at New Delhi". Orissa Diary. Retrieved 20 May 2025.