Kritarth, The majestical socio-cultural festival, marked with celebration of culture, intellect, and humanity, hosted annually by KIIT, has carved its place under the visionary guidance of Prof. Achyuta Samanta, whose eminence led to The Art of Giving, Kompassion and India against Negativity. The Eighth edition of Kritarth takes this legacy forward with a fresh focus on inclusivity and innovation.Through collective action and innovation, Kritarth inspires a brighter, more compassionate future, proving that even the toughest challenges can lead to new possibilities. This transformative two-day journey will be a platform where ideas will spark and diverse voices will converge. Kritarth 8.0 drives meaningful change, showing that together we can illuminate the path from shadows to light.

Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) Bhubaneswar is a deemed university in Kalinga, India. Considered one of the most esteemed universities in India, it draws students seeking professional and technical education from over 50 countries as well as from all around the nation. Its reputation as the most student-friendly university in the temple city of Bhubaneswar has been built on the principles of compassion and humanism. With just Rs. 5OOO as seed funding, it was established as a vocational training centre in 1992–1993 by the renowned educator and social activist Prof. Achyuta Samanta. From that time onwards, KIIT has experienced exponential growth, raising the bar in all academic fields. The university is rapidly becoming a global centre for excellent professional and technical education, with 30,000 varied students from 50 different countries and all 28 Indian states. Recently, the Indian government's Ministry of Human Resource Development designated KIIT Deemed to be University as an "Institution of Eminence" (IoE). Envisioned by the Indian government's 'IoE' initiative, KIIT is among 10 public and private universities that would be converted into top-tier educational institutions with the goal of placing India on the international education map. It is the first university in Eastern India to be ranked in both the QS BRICS World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, both at 2O19. According to the MHRD's Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA), the university ranked second out of all self-financing institutions in India. With internationally recognized bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degree programs in more than 1OO fields like engineering, medicine, business, biotechnology, and law, KIIT's 22 schools provide education to nearly 30,000 students.

Prof. Achyuta Samanta is a social worker, philanthropist, and educationist. He founded renowned institutions like the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) and the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT). KIIT has over 30,000 students from India and 53 countries, making it a globally recognised centre for professional education. KISS provides free housing for 60,000 indigenous children. Prof. Samanta has made significant contributions to education, tribal upliftment, healthcare, and rural development, as well as in the fields of art, culture, literature, film, media, society, and national integration. Despite facing challenges from a young age, such as losing his father at four and being raised by a widow mother with seven siblings in a small Odisha village, he has achieved remarkable success without external support. He transformed the remote village of “KalaraBanka” in Cuttack into a smart village and developed the Manpur Panchayat into a model panchayat (village cluster). Prof. Samanta has received more than 50 international and national honours and over 200 state awards, including two of the highest civilian honours from Bahrain and Mongolia. He has also been awarded 44 honorary doctorates, both nationally and internationally. He is the first person from Odisha to become a member of the Association of Indian Colleges and Teachers of Engineering and the University of Georgia. He represents Kandhamal and Odisha in the Lok Sabha and is also the president of the Indian Volleyball Federation. As a social reformer, he advocates for the "Art of Giving," a philosophy aimed at creating a happier and more peaceful world. Despite his many achievements, he leads a humble life and is dedicated to eliminating hunger, poverty, and illiteracy while bringing happiness to millions.