Bhubaneswar: The 42nd Sarala Puraskar was conferred on well-known Odia writer Paramita Satpathy at a simple ceremony in the IMFA office, here on Tuesday.
IMFA Charitable Foundation trustee Paramita Panda presented the prestigious award to Satpathy for her novel ‘Abhipreta Kaal’. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh and a memento. It is instituted by industrialist Bansidhar Panda and Ila Panda and is given by IMFA’s Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust since 1980.
The Ila-Bansidhar Panda Kala Samman was also presented to veteran painter Jagdish Chandra Kanungo and Ghumra artiste Jayant Kumar Behera on the occasion. Both the artists received cash award of Rs 1.5 lakh each besides mementoes.
Congratulating the award winners, Panda remembered the contribution of Bansidhar Panda and Ila Panda towards enriching the language and literature, art and ancient culture of Odisha. Three short documentary films on the awardees were screened and a brochure of Sarala Puraskar- 2021 was unveiled on the occasion.
Odisha Sahitya Akademi president Dr Hrushikesh Mallick, Dr Krushna Chandra Pradhan, Prof Babaji Charan Patnaik, Dr Praveena Mohanty, Surya Mishra, Deb Prasad Dash, Dr Shyamamani Devi, Dr Aruna Mohanty and Panchami Manu Ukil constituted the jury for selecting the awardees.
Chief coordinator of Sarala Puraskar Saroj Bal moderated the proceedings.
