Bhubaneswar: Noted Odia poet, essayist and former CSIR-IMMT scientist Ashutosh Parida will receive the prestigious 47th Sarala Puraskar for his poetry collection ‘Bishwas De Pruthwi’, official sources said Wednesday. Instituted by the Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT), the charitable arm of Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd (IMFA), the Sarala Puraskar is presented annually for outstanding literary achievement in Odia. The award will be presented at a ceremony in Bhubaneswar October 25.
Parida will receive a citation, a copper plaque and a cash prize of Rs 7 lakh. Meanwhile, IMPaCT has also announced the Ila-Bansidhar Panda Kala Samman 2026 for lifetime excellence in the field of art. Odissi maestro and Padma Shri awardee Guru Durga Charan Ranbir and sculptor and art educator Damodar Behera will receive the honour. Each awardee will be presented with a citation, a copper plaque and a cash prize of Rs 2.5 lakh. Founded by Ila Panda and Bansidhar Panda in 1980, IMPaCT has played a significant role in promoting Odia literature and the state’s rich cultural heritage, including art, music and dance. IMPaCT also instituted the Ekalabya Puraskar in 1993, which has emerged as one of Odisha’s most prestigious sports awards.
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