Being honored with the prestigious ‘Kalinga Ratna-2024’ award by the respected President of India Smt. Draupadi Murmu, is a matter of great pride and immense emotion for me. As an Odia, this is a tremendous honor for me. I cannot express it in words. This honor is not mine alone, but belongs to every Odia.
I am grateful to the esteemed President, the Sarala Sahitya Sansad, and the selection committee for considering me worthy of this honor at a literary gathering. This day will remain forever memorable in my social and political life.
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, graced the birth anniversary celebrations of Adikabi Sarala Das and presented the Kalinga Ratna Award-2024 to Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan at Cuttack, Odisha, today (July 15, 2025).
Speaking on the occasion, the President paid her respects to Adikabi Sarala Das. She said that Adikabi Sarala Das has enriched Indian literature by composing the Mahabharata. She appreciated ‘Sarala Sahitya Sansad’ for celebrating the birth anniversary of the great poet and organizing various literary programs.
The President congratulated Shri Dharmendra Pradhan on receiving the Kalinga Ratna Award. She also congratulated Shri Bijaya Nayak, who received the literary award, ‘Sarala Samman’.
The President said that our diversity is like a rainbow. Our unity has been very strong for ages. We have many languages, but the sentiment is one. The world remains amazed at how India remains united and integrated amidst so many languages and so many religions.
The President said that Indian languages have contributed immensely in enriching the Indian educational tradition. It is a matter of happiness that in the National Education Policy 2020, emphasis has been laid on imparting education in the mother tongue. She said that education in the mother tongue could help children connect to their culture and tradition. She stated that one should also learn other languages besides their mother tongue.
About Sarala Sahitya Sansad
Sarala Das is the first Odia poet. Because of his contributions to Odia language and literature he is regarded as the father of Odia literature. He is a rare literary genius of the world. To preserve the memory of this great poet, Sarala Sahitya Sansad has been established at Cuttack which is the centre of Odia literature and culture. The idea for establishing this literary organization was conceived in December 1981 by Er. Pravakar Swain. He was encouraged in his mission by Prof. Dr. Nirad Kumar Gochayat, Professor Prafulla Kumar Pati and the eminent litterateur Padmabhusan Dr. Kalindi Charan Panigrahi. Pravakar Swain’s brain-child, Sarala Sahitya Sansad saw the light of the day in 29 January 1982. On the same day the office bearers of the Sansad were unanimously elected.
Kalinga Ratna Award
Besides Sarala Samman, the Sansad has instituted an award called Kalinga Ratna since 2007 which is given every year to an worthy person of Odisha having outstanding contribution in any field in national/international level.
Past Recipient of Kalinga Ratna Award
The recipients of this award are former Chief Justice of India, Justice Sri Ranganath Mishra, former Speaker, Lok Sabha, Srijukta Rabi Ray, former Judge of Supreme Court of India, Justice Sri Arijit Pasayat the then Judge, Supreme Court of India, Padmabhusana Ramakanta Rath, former President, Sahitya Akademi, Padmabhibusana Dr. Sitakanta Mohapatra Eminent Writer New Delhi and eminent social activist Padmashree Ms. Tulasi Munda, Justice Dr. Anang Kumar Pattnaik the then Judge, Supreme Court of India. Padmabhusana Pratibha Ray Reputed Writer, Sri. Biswabhusan Harichnadan , the then Governor of Andhra Pradesh
Sarala Sahitya Sansad observes the birth anniversary of many eminent literateurs. The birth centenary of Kalindi Charan Panigrahi, the first President of the Sansad was organized by the Sansad. The birth anniversary of the poet, Padmashree Satchidananda Rautray is being observed since 2001. The Sansad had conferred the title Kavya Saraswati on Sri Rautaray on 2nd September, 2003.
