Manoranjan hails from Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha and completed his MSW from Utkal University. His transformative journey began with two influential years as a Gandhi Fellow before venturing into various roles with different NGOs like Gram Swaraj, NCAS, Project Potential, Ahimsagram and Thread. Through these experiences, he gained a deep understanding of the lives and livelihoods of tribals in Odisha, which further strengthened his passion for advocating for tribal rights. He also undertook an extensive cycling expedition that took him around 5000 kilometers across eastern and southern India. In the process, he immersed himself in the aspirations of the youth and explored both rural and urban lifestyles. However, he constantly sought opportunities to conduct research on the rights of Adivasi communities. This search led him to the BN Yugandhar Rainfed Agriculture Fellowship. Not knowing BN Yugandhar at first, he later discovered this person’s remarkable commitment to marginalized tribal communities. When he was selected for the fellowship, Manoranjan focused on researching land rights and revenue records of the land in Kalahandi, Odisha. This opportunity promises to provide invaluable insights into rural community food security, assessing the impact of millets, promoting positive change within the community, and deepening his understanding of legal research practices.