Odisha has lost one of its foremost heritage scholars with the passing of Anil Dey, Chairman of the Kalinga Heritage Preservation Trust (KHPT), at the age of 96 following a heart attack in Cuttack.

While many admired Odisha's ancient temples, Anil Dey devoted his life to understanding how they were built. His research blended engineering with archaeology, offering fresh insights into the science behind Kalinga architecture.

An engineer by profession, Dey dedicated over six decades to researching Odisha's temple architecture, particularly the 13th-century Konark Sun Temple. Unlike conventional historians, he approached ancient monuments through the lens of structural engineering, mathematics, and construction science, challenging long-held theories about how these architectural masterpieces were designed and built.

Before becoming a respected researcher and author, Dey served as Odisha's first Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) and later retired as Joint Commissioner, Transport. Through KHPT, he championed the conservation of Odisha's heritage and the revival of traditional Kalinga temple craftsmanship.

His passing marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in Odisha's heritage movement, but his research will continue to guide future generations studying one of India's greatest architectural traditions.