Odia Writer Binapani Mohanty Conferred With Atibadi Jagannath Das Puraskar

Cuttack: Eminent litterateur and novelist Binapani Mohanty was conferred with the prestigious Atibadi Jagannath Das Puraskar-2019 on the occasion of the 63^rd foundation day of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi on Saturday.

Odia Language, Literature & Culture minister Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi, secretary, Culture Manoranjan Panigrahi; director, Culture Bijay Kumar Nayak; secretary, Odisha Sahitya Akademi Suchismita and Cuttack collector Bhabani Shankar Chayani conferred the award on Mohanty at her residence in the city.

The award carries a cash award of Rs 1 lakh, a citation and a shawl.

The literary career of Mohanty as a storyteller began with the publication of ‘Gotie Ratira Kahani’ in 1960. Some of her prominent literary creations include ‘Pata Dei’, ‘Khela Ghara,’ ‘Naiku Rasta’, ‘Bastraharana’, Andhakarara’, ‘Kasturi Murga O Sabuja Aranya’ and ‘Michhi Michhika’. The novel ‘Pata Dei’ had won Monaty the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1990. She has authored three Odia novels and translated Russian folk tales from English to Odia.

In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Odisha Sahitya Akadmi this year organised a virtual function to celebrate its foundation day.

In a message, Governor Ganeshi Lal wished the Akademi on the occasion of its foundation day.