Bhubaneswar, Oct 25 Renowned Odia poet Dr Ashutosh Parida was on Sunday conferred the 47th Sarala Puraskar, instituted by the Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT) for outstanding literary achievement.
The award was presented by well-known lyricist, poet and novelist R Vairamuthu.
It comprises a copper plaque, a citation and a cash prize of Rs 7 lakh, and recognises Parida’s acclaimed poetry collection, ‘Bishwas De Pruthwi’, published by Parabha Publication.
On the occasion, Odissi maestro Guru Durga Charan Ranbir, a recipient of the Padma Shri in 2025, and sculptor and art educator Damodar Behera were honoured with the Ila-Bansidhar Panda Kala Samman for lifetime excellence in the performing and visual arts, respectively.
Each artist received a citation, a copper plaque and Rs 2.5 lakh.
Presiding over the function, Trustee Paramita Panda congratulated Dr Parida, describing ‘Bishwas De Pruthwi’ as a profound reflection on our times, and noted that the poet has always placed social reality at the heart of his work.
In his keynote address, Vairamuthu, a recipient of the Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri and Sahitya Akademi Award, among other honours, said, “Language is a culture, and it lives in continuity with other cultures. One’s mother tongue is one’s identity. People must protect their language. When a language gains strength, its boundaries expand.”
“I salute the two guardians of culture, Late Dr Bansidhar Panda and Late Mrs Ila Panda, who nurtured and preserved this cultural legacy for 47 years,” he added.
Padma Bhushan awardee and Jnanpith laureate Dr Pratibha Ray, who attended the function, said, “I may write novels, but I read poetry extensively, as it is the heart of literature, and literature cannot exist without it. Where poets run out of words, poetry completes itself, touching the hearts of readers through its sensitivity and emotions.”
Dr Ashutosh Parida said, “I have often been asked why, having chosen a career in science, I write poetry. But science and poetry are not opposites. They share human curiosity and imagination. I have never felt any conflict between them. For me, poetry is a journey into human memory, a way of bringing a beautiful world back to life.”
IMPaCT, founded in 1974 by Dr Bansidhar Panda and Mrs Ila Panda, has been instrumental in promoting Odia literature through the Sarala Puraskar (instituted in 1980), the Ila-Bansidhar Panda Kala Samman and the Ekalabya Puraskar for sports.
(PTI News)
