Dr. Vishwanath Panigrahi of Bagbahra, Chhattisgarh, at the age of 71, has set a wonderful example of devotion to duty, hard work, service and honesty for the youth and employed people of the country. Dr. Vishwanath Panigrahi works in the tendu leaf trading firm M/s Chakubhai Ghelabhai & Sons. He started working as a weighman in the firm on 14 August 1968 at the age of just 16. Tendupatta traders have been providing their services for more than 54 years in the firm of M/s Chakubhai Ghelabhai & Sons and their other organizations, showing their honesty and devotion to duty. He has been working in the same firm since adolescence, today he is working with the fourth generation of the firm. During his tenure, Dr. Vishwanath Panigrahi set a world record by providing services to four generations of one firm. For his achievement, his name was recorded with gold letters in the Golden Book of World Records as a world record with the title of “Serving Most Generation in Single Firm”. The certificate of world record was presented to Dr. Vishwanath Panigrahi by Dr. Manish Vishnoi, Asia Head of the Golden Book of World Records. Mr. Kishanlal Amarsibhai, Mr. Vijaybhai, Mr. Bhaveshbhai, Mr. Devanshbhai of Chakubhai Ghelabhai & Sons congratulated Dr. Vishwanath Panigrahi for this achievement of getting his name registered in the world record and for providing his services to the firm for more than 54 years.
Expressing happiness over being included in the Golden Book of World Records, Dr. Vishwanath Panigrahi said, “I am serving here with the first generation of the firm late Mr. Amarsi Bhai Chakubhai, second generation Mr. Kishan Lal Amarsi Bhai, third generation Vijay Kumar Kishanlal Bhai and currently the fourth generation Mr. Devansh Vijay Bhai. Being a Gujarati company imprinted me with Gujarati culture and allowed me to speak, understand and learn the Gujarati language. Which I am proud of. ”
Dr. Panigrahi is a well-known personality with a long list of successes and honours. He is the founder and president of Green Care Society India. Dr. Panigrahi has been honoured with many awards at regional, state, national and international levels for his contribution to environmental protection, global warming, climate change, tree plantation, Saakshar Bharat, health, polio, United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 1-17, leprosy, tuberculosis prevention, blood donation, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, biodiversity conservation, voter awareness and many other public welfare works. Dr. Panigrahi also received the Chhattisgarh Governor’s Award for outstanding service to the Indian Red Cross Society. Due to his leading role, dedication and innovation in making India open defecation free and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, he has been awarded the titles of ODF Man, District Navratna, Clean and Green Ambassador and Sanitation Champion. Dr. Panigrahi also got the opportunity to interact with Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi in a Mann Ki Baat radio episode. Dr. Vishwanath Panigrahi was awarded an honorary doctorate by the International Internship University for environmental protection, and cleanliness including a plantation. Recently he was honoured with the Indo Malaysia Friendship Award in Malaysia.