Mahendra Kumar Mishra (1952), a distinguished folklorist and multilingual educationist from Odisha, has spent over four decades illuminating the rich tapestry of India's tribal languages, oral traditions, and indigenous knowledge systems. The first Indian to receive the UNESCO International Mother Language Award (2023), he was honoured for safeguarding endangered languages and advancing mother-tongue-based education. He also received the Kalevala Award for translating the Finnish epic Kalevala into Odia. His landmark Works- Folklore of Kalahandi, Ramkatha in Oral Tradition of Odisha, and Multilingual Education in Odisha-reflect his profound scholarship. Widely decorated, Dr. Mishra's legacy bridges tradition and transformative pedagogy.