[Watch] Sculptor Sudarshan Sahoo Gets Padma Vibhushan; Know About 6 Padma Awardees Of Odisha

New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind conferred Padma Vibhushan on Sudarshan Sahoo from Odisha his contribution to the field of art at 2021 Civil Investiture Ceremony-I at Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Tuesday.

He had received the Padma Shri in 1988.

An exponent of Shilpa Shastra, the ancient science of sculpture, Sahoo is the founder of the Sudarshan Crafts Museum at Puri and the Sudarshan Arts and Crafts Village in Bhubaneswar. Many of his students have bagged National and State awards.

“I am humbled at the honour bestowed upon me. The art and crafts village, I have set up since the time of Biju Babu needs support from the government to train and mould more sculptors for the future. The award will give a fillip to the mission,” he had told the media earlier.

“I dedicate this award to the people of Odisha. I had never expected that I would receive the award at the age of 83. I am thankful to the Centre and the state government,” he added.

Besides Sahoo, five others from Odisha also received the Padma Shri for 2021 – Shanti Devi (social work), Purnamasi Jani (art), Rajat Kumar Kar (literature and education), Nanda Prusty (literature and education) and Dr Krishna Mohan Pathi (medicine).

Nanda Prusty, 98, also popularly called  Nanda Master, belonging to Kantira village in Jajpur district has been on a mission to eradicate illiteracy. He continues teaching both children and adults of Kantira and nearby villages in a makeshift shed free of cost.

Also Read: For 75 Years Padma Shri Nanda Prusty Has Been Teaching Young & Old For Free

Eminent author, playwright and commentator, Rajat Kumar Kar holds the record of being the longest and oldest active commentator of the Puri Rath Yatra in both TV and radio for the last 62 years.

Rayagada-based social worker Shanti Devi, 86, has dedicated her life to the uplift of tribal women and children. She old had opened a voluntary organisation ‘Seva Samaj’ in  1965 through which, she currently runs three orphanages for girls in Gunupur and Rayagada; a hostel for tribal girls at Limameda; an educational complex for tribal girls at Jabarguda and eight child welfare centres in Rayagada and Gajapati districts.

Also Read: Know About Padma Shri Shanti Devi From Odisha

Purnamasi Jani has dedicated her life to the spiritual and folk songs of Kandhamal. A tribal poet, Jani is popularly known as Tadisaru Bai in the region for her devotional songs and poems. In the last 40 years, Jani has written and sung thousands of devotional and folk songs.

Also Read: Purnamasi Jani: Know This Padma Shri Awardee From Odisha

Orthopedician Dr Krishna Mohan Pathi of Berhampur has been healing the poor and tribal people of Ganjam free of cost for the last three decades. After returning from the UK where he worked at Radcliffe Infirmary Oxford, Liverpool and Birmingham, he set up a charitable organisation Bharadwaj Gurukul Ashram, through which he has been providing free healthcare service to tribals.

Also Read: Padma Shri Dr KM Pathi Is A Messiah For the Poor In Odisha’s Ganjam

Also Read: [Watch] 11 From Odisha Receive Padma Awards From President Ram Nath Kovind