Bhubaneswar: Four distinguished individuals from Odisha — Sakhi Nata folk theatre artist Simanchal Patro, eminent educationist and folklorist Mahendra Kumar Mishra, Santhali author Charan Hembram and tie and dye artist Sarat Kumar Patra — will be conferred with Padma Shri 2026, the Ministry of Home Affair announced on Sunday.
They have been chosen to receive the fourth-highest civilian honour in recognition of their outstanding contributions to art, literature, and education.
The President has approved 131 names for the Padma Shri, 5 for Padma Vibhushan and 13 for Padma Bhushan. “19 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 6 persons from the category of Foreigners / NRI / PIO/OCI and 16 Posthumous awardees,” it added.
Winners From Odisha
Patro is a celebrated performer in the Sakhi Nata folk theatre tradition, having begun his training in this art form from a very young age. He specializes in Prahlad Natak, a demanding style that involves mastering over 300 songs composed in more than 35 ragas. To further the growth and preservation of Prahlad Natak, he even sold a significant portion of his personal
property.
Similarly, Mishra is a distinguished linguist and folklorist from Odisha who has dedicated his career to documenting and safeguarding the oral traditions of the state’s tribal communities. He has meticulously recorded their myths, epics, proverbs, and songs, while authoring over 25 books on Odia and tribal folklore. His efforts played a key role in the introduction of multilingual education in several tribal languages across the state.
Mishra was conferred with International Mother Language Award 2023 of UNESCO for his lifetime service for the promotion of mother language in India.
The IANS also shared a video story in which Hembram was described as the sentinel of Santhanli language. He has tirelessly worked to establish legitimacy and greater recognition for the Santhali language and its associated arts. Over the last three decades, he established multiple institutions to make tribal and cultural education more accessible. Additionally, he has actively promoted indigenous dance forms among women to help sustain these traditional art expressions, it added.
Born in a traditional handloom weaver family in the manibandh Nuapatna Handloom Cluster of Cuttack’s Athgarh subdivision, Patra is know for creating magic with his loom. He weaves a wide range of elegant handloom like saree, dress materials, dhoti, scarf in cotton, silk as well as bapta (cotton and silk mixed) yarn. Fabrics woven by him are offered to Lord Jaganath in Puri on festive occasion. He was conferred with National Award winner for natural tie and dye products of Nuapatna in 1993 and Sant Kabir Award in 2015.