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Bhubaneswar, Sept 22: Noted Oriya poet and short story writer Banaja Devi has been chosen for the 38th Sarala Puraskar, for Kathapua, a compilation of 20 of her short stories. The Sarala Puraskar Committee announced this here Friday. She will receive a purse of `5 lakh October 26.
Kathapua focuses on several aspects of human behaviour. “I was inspired to write the stories by my personal interaction with people around me and those I have met,” she told Orissa POST.
Also, Pandit Guru Ghasiram Mishra is to be presented with Ila Panda Sangeet Samman for Music and Durga Prasad Das with the Ila Panda Chitrakala Samman for Art. Mishra and Das will receive cash of `1,50,000 each. Writer Padmashree Mamang Dai will be the chief guest. The annual Sarala Puraskar instituted by industrialist Bansidhar Panda and late Ila Panda in 1979 is sponsored by Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT).