Prime Minister Modi Hails Contribution Of Odisha’s Padma Awardees

Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed his pleasure and respect for the Padma awardees od Odisha whom he met during his visit to the state on Saturday.

In a series of posts in social media X (formerly Twitter) on the day, the Prime Minister said he had the pleasure to meet the state’s Padma awardees Haladhar Nag, Jitendra Haripal, Binod Kumar Pasayat, Bhagabat Pradhan, Krishna Patel and Mitrabhanu Gountia during the visit.

“During my visit to Odisha yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet some of the distinguished Padma awardees from the state who have made rich contributions to our nation at the grassroots level,” he said.

In another tweet, the Prime Minister said, “Glad to have met Haladhar Nag Ji, who was conferred the Padma Shri in 2016. His unwavering perseverance and profound dedication to preserving and promoting Sambalpuri and Odia literature are very inspiring. His passion for literature ignites a sense of pride for our linguistic traditions.”

On his meeting with Mitrabhanu Gountia, Modi said, “It was an enriching experience. His versatility as a dramatist, poet, lyricist, and novelist has left an indelible mark, enriching our cultural tapestry. He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2020.”

He also hailed Krishna Patel as he wrote, “Privileged to meet Dr Krishna Patel Ji, a celebrated Sambalpuri folk singer, whose mesmerising voice has resonated for over four decades. Her contribution to our cultural heritage is immense. The Government of India had conferred the Padma Shri on her in 2023.”

On his meeting with Jitendra Haripal, whose ‘Rangabati’ song in Sambalpuri dialect assumed iconic status around the world, Modia said, “He was conferred the Padma Shri in 2017 for his exemplary contribution to music. His rendition of Rangabati is widely admired. Glad to have met him in Odisha.”