Swagatika was born in Cuttack, oDishA into the educated oDiA Brahmin family of Prof. Baidyanath Rath on 6th Octobour1958. Her father was an Educationist, Dramatist, Renowned orator, Principal of Radhanath Training College and the first DPI of Schools. Her mother Dina Mani Rath was a house wife. She was the youngest among all the five brothers & one sister. In 1967, at the age of 8, Swagatika started her primary education at Ravanshaw Collegiate School, Cuttack. Then she was encouraged by her parents and teachers to get indulge in extra curricular activities, among which she was motivated towards learning music. She was an outstanding student too. After completing Matriculation in the year 1974 Swagatika joined Ravenshaw Collage and successfully graduated in Political Science in 1978. Then, she completed her Masters in Political Science from Utkal University.

Swagatika opted for learning music in the year 1968 from Guru Raghunath Nanda. During these days she got a chance to visit the set of Adina Megha with her father where she had proved her talent by singing in front of Balakrushna Dash and Akshaya Mohanty, and here, the high-appreciation of these tow legends encouraged Swagatika to become a singer. Then she became the disciple of the Bhajana King Bhikari Bal, who taught Swagatika Bhajan, Odissi and Hindustani vocal for five consecutive years and Shri Bal was the first person who took her (Swagatika) to a public performance for the first time. Then she learned Classical music under Khitish Chandra Maitra and completed “Bisharada” from Akhila Bharatiya Ghandharva Mohavidyala Mandal.

Swagatika married to Shri Manoranjan Mohapatra who is presently working as a General Manager in Reliance Industries Limited in the year 1981 and blessed with two sons Soumya and Abhijeet.

She is currently residing with his family in Bhubaneshwar and spends her professional time in live performances, recordings and teaching Political Science to the students of City Women’s College, Bhubaneswar.