[Watch] Odisha Vocalist Shyamamani Devi & Social Reformer Baba Balia Receive Padma Shri

Bhubaneswar: President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday conferred Padma Shri Awards on eminent spiritual guru from Odisha Baba Balia and vocalist Shyamamani Devi at 2022 Civil Investiture Ceremony – I at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Baba Balia received the award for his distinguished service in the field of social work. A native of Jagatsinghpur, he has been working with poor and backward communities, eradicating superstitions and opposing child marriage while providing relief to victims of natural calamities like floods and cyclones.

Anjali Mohapatra, wife of Former Union Secretary late Guru Prasad Mohapatra received the award from the President.

The Odisha-born IAS officer and Secretary in the Department of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Mohapatra died of COVID-19 related complications in June last year.

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A 1986-batch Gujarat cadre IAS officer, Mohapatra was the youngest son of renowned litterateur Mohapatra Nilamani Sahoo.

Shyamamani is highly acclaimed for her renditions of Odissi, Chhanda and Champu, authored by medieval Odia musician-poets Upendra Bhanja, Baladeba Rath, Banamali Das, Gopalakrusna and others. She is also known for her renditions of light music such as traditional Odia folk music and modern songs.

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Known as ‘koel’ (cuckoo) of Odisha, Shaymamani was inspired by the songs of her times like Lata Mangeshkar, Noor Jehan, Rajkumari and Siddheshwari Devi.

Pramod Bhagat (Para-athlete), Aditya Prasad Dash (science and technology) and Narasingha Prasad Guru (literature and education) are the other Padma Shri awardee from the state.

Eminent Odia woman writer Pratibha Ray will be conferred with the prestigious Padma Bhushan award this year.

Watch the ceremony: