New Delhi: Three eminent persons from Odisha were honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri awards in recognition of their outstanding contributions to literature, education and the arts by President Droupadi Murmu at a special ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Distinguished litterateur and educationist Charan Hembram from Mayurbhanj was presented the Padma Shri for his outstanding contribution to Santali language and literature. His work has played a vital role in promoting indigenous literature and preserving cultural heritage.
He has devoted more than three decades to the promotion, development and preservation of the Santali language, literature and culture. He has also established several institutions dedicated to enriching the language and has made significant contributions to safeguarding the traditional dance culture of tribal women.
Similarly, renowned folk theatre guru Simanchal Patro from Ganjam was conferred the prestigious award for his pivotal role in keeping Odisha’s traditional folk arts alive.
From a young age, Patra nurtured a deep passion for folk theatre and went on to achieve national recognition for the classical folk theatre form ‘Prahlad Natak’. Featuring 35 ragas and nearly 300 musical compositions, the centuries-old tradition has survived largely due to his tireless efforts. His dedication to the art form is so profound that he reportedly sold a substantial part of his personal property to sustain and promote it.
Distinguished bandha artist Sarat Kumar Patra from the Tigiria area of Kataka district was honoured with the Padma Shri for his exceptional craftsmanship by intricately weaving verses from Geeta Govinda dedicated to Lord Jagannath onto bandha sarees.
In a remarkable feat, he successfully inscribed the sacred text on a 52-metre-long bandha saree-an extremely complex and labour-intensive task executed with unwavering dedication. The monumental work took nearly seven years to complete.
