Bhubaneswar: Noted Odia poet Rabi Singh will receive the prestigious
Atibadi Jagannath Das Samman, the highest literary award of Odisha,
for the year 2017.
The award will be conferred on Singh for his lifetime achievement and
contribution to Odia literature. A decision in this regard was taken
at the working council meeting of Odisha Sahitya Akademi on Friday.
Singh’s poetry collections include Patha Prantara Kabita (the poems of
roadside), Charama Patra (the final testament), Sithila Balga (the
slack rein), Lal Pagoda Ra Preta O Anya Kabita (the spirit of the red
pagoda and other poems) and Apritikara Kabita (the unpleasant poems).
Besides, 15 other eminent litterateurs will also be felicitated for
their achievements. They are- Sanatan Nayak, Rajat Kumar Kar, Bhupen
Mohapatra, Nabakishore Prusty, Ramachandra Mohanta, Surendra Kumar
Maharana, Trinath Sahu, Laxmidhar Jena, Bansidhar Rout, Panchanan
Mishra, Anjali Panda, Nakul Chandra Dash, Anil Chandra Dash and
Gobardhan Nayak.
Atibadi Jagannath Das Samman has been named after 15th century Odia
poet Atibadi Jagannath Das, who was also known as Atibadi (greatest).
Started in 1993, the first award was conferred on Odia poet Radha
Mohan Gadnayak. As many as 20 persons have been honoured with the
award so far.
