I am Dr. Mahendra Kumar Mishra, an Indian linguist and folklorist from Odisha, deeply committed to promoting indigenous languages and preserving cultural heritage. Over the past three decades, I have dedicated my efforts to integrating endangered tribal languages into school curricula, drawing on community knowledge to enrich education. One of my significant contributions has been pioneering the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) in Odisha, where we successfully introduced ten tribal languages at the primary school level. 

In 2023, my lifelong dedication to the preservation and promotion of mother languages was honored with the International Mother Language Award by UNESCO, presented by the Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka. This recognition holds profound significance for me as it celebrates the vital work of safeguarding linguistic diversity.

My work extends beyond linguistics into the realm of folklore. I have conducted extensive fieldwork on tribal cultures across Odisha and Chhattisgarh, documenting and promoting their rich traditions. Over the years, my contributions have been acknowledged with several prestigious honors, including the Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award in 1999 and the Veer Shankar Shah Raghunath Award for lifetime achievement in tribal language and culture.

Currently, I serve as a trustee of the Language and Learning Foundation, where I continue to advocate for multilingual education and the preservation of indigenous languages. It is my unwavering belief that the rich linguistic and cultural tapestry of our communities is not only a heritage to be preserved but also a powerful tool for empowering future generations.