Dr. Sitakant Mahapatra, born on September 17, 1937, is a noted Oriya poet and famous in India as well as internationally for his work. His poems depict a clear picture of the innocent oriya community. He has a great love for the tribal communities in Orissa and his works clearly gives an indication of that.

He is a former bureaucrat of Orissa. He got many wards. He received Jnanpith Award in 1993, Padma Bhushan in 2002. Mahapatra has received an honorary doctorate degree at the 12th Convocation of Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Tirupati.

Among his works are: Ashtapadi, 1963, Shabdara akasha, 1971, Ara drushya, 1981, Shrestha kavita, 1994, (all poetry); Sabda, Svapna O nirvikata, 1990 (essays), Aneka sarata, 1981(travelogue); Ushavilasa, 1996 (palm leaf manuscript); In English: The ruined Temple and other poems, 1996 (poetry, translation); and Unending Rhythms (Oral poetry of Indian Tribals in translation).