A visionary and a man of action, Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo (C.A., C.W.A., M.B.A, LLB, PhD, D. Litt.), was the Founder and Chairman of SAI International Education Group. The SAI International Education Group is amongst Eastern India’s largest education groups, comprising of four institutions, SAI International School, SAI International Residential School, SAI Angan, and SAI International College of Commerce, with over 7,000 students.

For his exemplary services in the field of education, he was appointed as the Advisor-cum-Working President, in the Rank of Minister of State, to Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya Sangathan (OAVS) by the Government of Odisha, with the mission to establish, operate and manage 314 CBSE affiliated English Medium Government Schools in Odisha.

The eminent educationist was conferred with the prestigious honorary degree of Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) by the renowned Utkal University in 2021. He was also awarded Economic Times Edupreneur of the Year 2020. His flagship institution, SAI International School, has been ranked India’s #1 co-ed day-cum-boarding school by Education World India School Rankings 2020.

In his pursuit of building a happy nation, his work 'SAI International', got recognised by the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC). IIMC published a case study on the life of our Founder-Chairman and the journey of SAI International. The case, namely, “SAI International School: In Pursuit of Academic Happiness”, will be taught to all management students who attend the MBA program at the prestigious institution. One of Asia’s finest management institution, IIM Calcutta, has included this case within their core curriculum of management to teach the country’s finest leaders the concept of SAI, the art of entrepreneurship, and education management.

He was appointed as Independent Director of various PSUs including Allahabad Bank, Hindustan Shipyard Limited, KIOCL, and Central Electricity Supply Utility (CESU). Additionally, he was the Chairperson FICCI Arise Eastern India.

His sudden and untimely demise on June 3, 2021, shook the entire education sector of India. The Government of Odisha accorded him with the highly prestigious State Honor, as a mark of respect, on his final farewell.