Bhubaneswar: Well-known Odia poet, fiction writer and critic Dr Gayatribala Panda, who has been nominated for the Kendra Sahitya Akademi award 2022 for her book ‘Dayanadi’, was on Tuesday felicitated by the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University in Odisha capital for her literary achievement.
Dr Panda, who heads the SOA Centre of Preservation, Propagation and Restoration of Ancient Culture and Heritage of India (PPRACHIN) was presented with a shawl and memento at a function held in the university. The centre is dedicated to preservation and restoration of the country’s rich heritage and culture.
Felicitating the poet, Chancellor of SOA Prof DP Ray said, “The award for Dr Panda is a matter of pride for the university. It is a feather in SOA’s cap and has brought laurels for the institution.”
Replying to the felicitation, Dr Panda said, “I am greatly privileged to be part of SOA and have learnt a lot from its leadership”. Stating that she had started writing from a very young age, Dr. Panda said she had won her first literary award at the age of 12 years. She won the Kendriya Sahitya Akademi Yuva Purashkar in Odia for her collection of poems titled ‘Gaan’ in 2011.
Congratulating Dr Panda on her award, SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof Ashok Kumar Mahapatra described it as a creditable achievement. “We are happy and congratulate her on winning this laurel,” he said.
Among others, Prof Bibhuti Bhushan Pradhan, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Registrar of SOA Prof Manas Kumar Mallick, Director Porf Manjula Das, Controller of Examination Prof Bijay Kumar Sahu, Dean of Institute of Agricultural Sciences Prof Anup Kumar Samantaray, Dean of Institute of Business and Computer Studies Prof Neeta Mohanty, Dean of Institute of Dental Sciences Prof Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare) and Deba Prasad Dash, Director, Corporate Relations were present.
