Bhubaneswar: The prestigious Pratima Award in the field of Art and Education enters its third edition in 2025 with the announcement of this year’s distinguished recipients.
Instituted by the Pratima Foundation, the award honours individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to education and traditional arts, particularly in Odisha.
Awards for 2025:
The Education Award, “Pratima Shikshya Samman” is being conferred upon Kalpataru Patra, a dedicated teacher known for his lifelong work in simplifying science for students. His unique, hands-on teaching methods and community science models have inspired thousands of young learners, especially in rural schools, making science both engaging and accessible.
The Art Award, “Pratima Shilpi Samman” goes jointly to Deeptirani Behera and Prashant Behera, a couple who have worked tirelessly to reimagine the traditional craft of golden grass weaving. Through innovation in design and sustained promotion efforts, they have brought global attention to this eco-friendly craft and empowered many local women artisans in the process.
The awards will be presented on May 6 at an event to be held in Gita Govinda Sadan in Bhubaneswar. The evening will feature a gathering of eminent personalities from the fields of art, education, literature, culture, and public life, and will include award presentations, book Inauguration and a memorial lecture.
Each award comprises a citation, a handcrafted memento, and a cash prize.