Bhubaneswar: Renowned poet Robin S Ngangom has been awarded the prestigious Jayanta Mahapatra National Award for Literature 2026 in recognition of his outstanding and lifelong contributions to Indian English poetry.
The award was conferred during the 4th Toshali Literature Festival, organised by the Udaygiri Foundation, which concluded here on February 1 after two days of vibrant literary discussions and events.
The honour was presented to Ngangom, a bilingual poet and translator from Manipur known for his lyrical works in English and Manipuri, during the festival’s inaugural session on January 31. The award highlights his significant role in shaping contemporary Indian English poetry through collections such as ‘Words and the Silence’, ‘Time’s Crossroads’, and ‘The Desire of Roots’.
Eminent Odia writer Dr Pratibha Ray was the Chief Guest. She spoke passionately about literature as a reflection of lived experience, urging authors to amplify the voices of women and marginalized communities. Poet Haraprasad Das encouraged writers to move away from western-centric literary frameworks and rediscover India’s rich indigenous narrative traditions.
A special highlight was the screening of a documentary film on the life and work of the late poet Jayanta Mahapatra, after whom the award is named. The event also featured the release of several new books, including the Toshali Anthology of Poetry, Unbridled by Divya K Unni, Where Peace Begins by Dr Sweta Kumari, Durgapur Review edited by Braja Kumar Sarkar, The Snake and Ladder Game by Manoranjan Sahu, and Architects of Odisha: An NRI’s Perspective by Sambit Dash.
The two-day festival drew more than 150 poets, writers, and literature enthusiasts from across India. Sessions covered diverse themes including Climate Change and Literature, Gender and Literature, Feminism in Contemporary Fiction, Children’s Literature, Literature and Social Media, and the debate between traditional Poet’s Poetry and AI-generated poetry. Poetry readings by young writers and a multilingual poetry session added to the festival’s inclusive spirit.
Udaygiri Foundation President Jay Jagadev emphasised the foundation’s dedication to promoting Odia literature both nationally and internationally.
