Dr. Srikanta Kumar Dash, Ph.D, former Lecturer in Sociology, Bhadrak Autonomous College, Bhadrak, Odisha and at present working as Assistant Director, Regional Institute of Planning, Applied Economics and Statistics under Planning and Convergence Department of Government of Odisha is an alumnus of the Ravenshaw College, Cuttack (1985-1988) and the JNU, New Delhi (1988 -1990).He did his Graduation and Masters in Sociology (CSSS) from the Ravenshaw college and JNU respectively.

Dr. Dash has been awarded the M. Phil and Ph.D. degree in Sociology by the Sambalpur University, Burla under the supervision of Professor Dr. Deepak Kumar Behera, at present Vice Chancellor, Sambalpur University, Odisha.

A brilliant scholar and pro-active officer in the Planning and Convergence Department of the Government of Odisha, Dr.Dash is a humanist in the true sense of the word. Of late, he has devoted himself to the study of sociological perspectives of good governance, people’s polyphonic development, and total inclusive growth.

The Aged Juangs of Gonasika Hills of Keonjhar,Odisha (India)is the edited version of his Ph.D. dissertation and his maiden publication ofDr. Dash, the budding writer and dedicated researcher.

This book is a report of a study on the life of old tribal community called Juang living in the Gonasika hills of Keonjhar district of Odisha. The book presents the data collected by the scholar cum author Dr. Srikanta Dash on their life, living and values. Most of the aged Juangs, being inviolably rooted in body, mind, and soul on Gonasika, experience atonement with the romantic ecology of Gonasika. But are they happy? Are they pining for something beyond their environmental aesthetics? Read this book to understand the agonies and angst of a community still othered and smothered by various forces of nature and social prejudice.