. In fact, from early childhood, she started cuddling up emotions and scribbled down her feelings on a regular basis. That in later stage culminated into stories, novels, poems, dramas, features, articles of social relevance, women empowerment & gender related issues. She has been continuously writing her editorials on women, women related issues, and on women empowerment since a decade. She rediscovered various facets of characters portrait in the great epics like Ramayan and Mahabharat. She flourished as a writer, braving many distractions that came in her life. Her first book ‘Tathaapi’ is a collection of short stories came out in the year 2001. And then, she never looked back. Her books have received rave reviews and have been appreciated by readers as well. In a literary carrier of more than twenty five years she has written/edited/compiled many books.
Dr. Iti Samanta was born on 1970 in a non-descript village Kalarabanka in Cuttack District of Odisha. She is the youngest of seven siblings of Nilimarani Samanta and Anadi Charan Samanta. She lost her father when she was just two months old and was brought up by her mother amidst abject poverty and sticky social challenges. Soon after finishing school she joined Electronics &Telecommunication Engineering course to financially support her family. But she had a strong desire since her School days to become a writer, so her literary calling gained over her and after completion of engineering degree again she changed her academic pursuit to literature which brought her a meritorious Post Graduate Degree in Odia Literature and a lambent Masters Degree in Mass Communications and Journalism. Later, she did her Ph.D in literature from Viswa-Bharati Central University, Shantiniketan and is awarded Junior and Senior Fellow-Scholar by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Above all she is a self-made women who has dedicated her whole life for literature, art and social work.
While she climbed the scholarly career in literature and communication studies, the inner calling of the creative aspect she dedicate herself to literary entrepreneurship and promote community’s rich art and cultural heritage. The result of this alchemy of creative spirit led to the establishment of Kadambini Media Pvt. Ltd. with the sole objective of promoting art, culture, literature and cinema in Odisha and India as well.
Publication of ‘The Kadambini’, a frontline family magazine in Odia, launched in 2000, which has been unfailingly hitting the book-stands and bookstores of Odisha every month. Edited by Dr. Iti Samanta. It is the most popular Odia family magazine with highest readership today.
Publication of ‘The Kunikatha’, a premier monthly magazine for the children which has gained unparalleled acceptance among the young readers. Dr. Iti Samanta edits the magazine.
Holding of ‘PatrikaaHaata’, an annual unique event showcasing and on-the-spot marketing of magazines and other literary publications from all over the State.
Instituting prestigious ‘Neelimarani Saraswat Sammana’, ‘Kadambini Sammana’ and ‘Kadambini Saraswata Sammana’.
Tathaapi (Short Story Collection): It is a Collection of short stories written by the authoress at different times. Very brilliantly told, the stories in the book deal with the torture and trauma of women and their struggle to find their self esteem.
Iti Tora Lipsa (Short Story Collection): This book also contains short stories. The central characters of all these stories are women. With pain, pleasure, suffering, love, hate, treachery, conflicts and erosion of values in the back ground and glued to the tradition and culture, these stories tell us about the struggle of women for self-liberation.
Jhada Parara Surya O Krantidhara (Short Story & Film Script): ‘Jhada Parara Surya’, a story by Dr. Iti Samanta, on woman liberation is well appreciated by readers and critics. It’s strong story line and poetic narratives compel the readers to go through it. Later on, a film namely, Krantidhara has been made on the story. Directed by Himanshu Sekhar Khatua a national award winning director. The film has got many awards and accolades. Both the story and the screenplay of Krantidhara have been compiled in this book.
Niraba Aalaapa (Novel): It is the story of a blind girl, who, in spite of her sufferings throughout, never compromises with the values of life. Her lover deceives her. Still she remains calm and compassionate and struggles hard to keep her self esteem high.
Itibruti (Part-I, Editorial Collection): This is a compilation of the editorial pieces of the most popular Odia Monthly, The Kadambini. Penned by Dr. Samanta as is editor. Spanning for a period from July 2000 to June 2005 these articles authoritatively comment on various social and cultural aspects.
Itibruti (Part-II, Editorial Collection): This is a book of editorials of the largest circulated monthly of Odisha ‘The Kadambini’ from July 2005 to June 2010. Widely accepted and very well appreciated by the readers, these articles speak on various social, cultural and contemporary topics.
Kathaare Kathaare Upanyaasa re Naaricharitra (Part-I, A collection of research oriented interviews): This is a research based interview book by the authoress. In the book, the interviewer, Dr. Samanta has tried to capture the mood and psyche of twenty two novelists and has put before the readers their views and writings on women. A unique book in itself, this gives a lot of information about the authors, their characters in the book, their views and opinions on women, men, society, and life etc.
Kathaare Kathaare Upanyaasa re Naaricharitra (Part-II, A collection of research oriented interviews): This is the second part of Kathare Kathare Upanyasa re NariCharitra Containing interviews of twenty two authors. They include celebrated novelists like Mohapatra Nilamani Sahu, Shantanu Kumar Acharya, Srinibas Udgata, Kanakalata Mohanty, Padmaja Pal and others. Here, in the book authors have spoken up their mind on women and the society.
Kathabarta (A collection of interviews) :Leading Monthly of Odisha, The Kadambini, Consistently associates itself with people from all walks of life. Be they writers, intellectuals, politicians, bureaucrats or common people. It shares their opinion and views on various aspects of life, society, literature, culture, environment etc. Through interviews to its readers in the magazine. It covers almost all areas of the society and life. This is a compilation of those interviews done by Iti Samanta and is a unique one to be referred by research scholars and many others.
Prasanga Guchha:- It’s a collection of features on various topics based on current topics and social problems by Dr. Iti Samanta published in Kadambini.
Sakuntala ra Jhia (Daughter of Sakuntala):- The novel depicts the life & struggle of a single parent (mother) for upbringing and educating her daughter. Sakuntala a strong willed woman boldly denies in putting her daughter’s father’s name in the school admission register. In her opinion, her child should not be recognised by the name of the person who doesn’t want her to come to the world and do not have any contribution towards her upbringing.
Kunakuni nku Chithhi: The book is a collection of letter written by Dr. Iti Samanta to the young youths published in the ‘The Kunikatha’, a monthly magazine for children & youth in which each letter give a informatic message for the growing youth. The book is published in four parts.
Charchaare Chandrasekhar (A book of critical essays): This is a book of discussion on the great story teller, orator, educationist and intellectual of Odisha, Chandra sekhar Rath. Established writers and intellectuals have contributed their scholarly pieces of writing for this book discussing various aspects of his writing and persona. They include, Mahapatra Nilamani Sahu, Asit Kabi, Dasarathi Das, Sanghamitra Mishra, Rabi Patnayak, Jibanananda Pani and may others. Dr. Samanta has edited the book.
Kadambini Aama Rosei (Part-1, 2 & 3) : A very popular section in the most popular monthly of Odisha. ‘The Kadambini’ is its recipe section. In past seventeen years the magazine has published many recipes in its pages. The range is vast. From Khichdi to Biriyani, cake to piza and from Idli to chowmin, it has published almost all the dishes that are seen in India homes. All these recipes are edited and compiled by Dr. Samanta in three volumes; Kadambini Ama Rosei 1st, Kadambinini Ama Rosei 2nd and Kadambini Ama Rosei 3rd.
She has published 52 nos. of books through her media house Kadambini Media Pvt. Ltd.
Production of ‘Kathaantara’, National Award winning and thought provoking film based on the story of Super-Cyclone affected refugees in Odisha. The film took part in several National and International Film Festivals