Odisha Engineer Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya’s Journey From Student Rocket to Defence Drones
From building a radio at six to launching a student rocket, Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya went on to co-found IG Drones and lead IG Defence’s work in drone and defence technology.
From building a community radio as a child to launching a student-built rocket and eventually entering the defence technology sector, Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya’s journey has been shaped by a long-standing interest in solving practical problems with technology.
Born in Bhadrak, Odisha, in 1996, Sanghapriya grew up near the coast where missile and rocket tests were conducted from what is now Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island. His father, a teacher, ran a science club from home, exposing him to electronics, science kits and astronomy from an early age.
At around six, Sanghapriya and his friends reportedly used discarded electronic components to create a community radio aimed at sharing information about floods and weather. His interest in technology continued during his engineering years at Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology in Burla.
As a student, he assembled a team to work on a rocket project despite limited institutional resources. After numerous experiments, the team eventually launched a rocket to an altitude of around 16,000 feet, according to Sanghapriya and university records.
The project attracted national attention, including a mention by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Mann Ki Baat in 2014. ISRO scientists also examined the students’ work, with the interaction reportedly turning into an extended technical discussion.
The project later contributed to the establishment of an ISRO-VSSUT Space Innovation Centre at the university.
After graduating in 2018, Sanghapriya moved into the drone technology sector and co-founded IG Drones with Om Prakash. The company initially worked on applications including mapping, surveillance and agriculture before expanding into defence technology.
Sanghapriya now leads IG Defence, which focuses on surveillance and reconnaissance systems, tactical drones, counter-UAS technology, autonomous platforms and defence AI. Its JAGA vertical-take-off-and-landing UAV has also been procured for surveillance applications.
His journey has therefore moved from discarded electronics and student experiments to commercial drone technology and defence systems, while retaining the same focus on building technology to address real-world challenges.
