Shantanu Mohapatra was born at Baripada in the Mayurbhanja District of OdishA on 6th January, 1936 to parents Late Romesh & Saudamini Mohapatra. Started initial training in vocal music under the tutelage of Sangeet Narayan Banchhanidhi Panda and was ready for public performance when he was just 9 years old. From the year 1944 to 1949, he had created a storm as a child prodigy in the All OdishA Music Competitions organized by the “Utkal Sangeet Samaaj”, Cuttack by lifting the Best Singer Trophy for four consecutive years, singing Dhrupad, Khayaal, Odissi & Bhajan.

In the year 1951, Shantanu Mohapatra completed his Matriculation and joined Inter-Science at Ashutosh College under Calcutta University. During his higher studies at Ashutosh College & at Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal (Degree in Applied Geology & Geophysics) (1953-1957) he joined IPTA (Indian People’s Theatrical Association) and learnt the art and technique of Choral Singing and Composing music in general under the famous Poet-Singer-Composer and Social Activist Salil Choudhuty.