Cuttack: Author, poet, lyricist, academic and administrator Devdas Chhotray was awarded the prestigious ‘Sahitya Bharati Samman’ for the year 2021.
The award carries Rs 1 lakh cash prize and silver memento which was tobe presented at a literary function, at Kala Vikash Kendra in Cuttack on April 4.. Since Chhotray was unable to attend the function due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Award was presented at his residence in Alamchand Bazar, Cuttack.
Cardiologist and artist Dr Jadunath Pasad Das was conferred with ‘Gangadhar Rath Smaraki Samman’.
Notably, this award has been named after the founder of the foundation, former advocate general of Odisha late Gangadhar Rath.
Rath had also instituted ‘Sahitya Bharati Samman’ for Odia littérateurs.
Poet Sadasiba Das received the ‘Bhanuji Rao Smaraki’ award.
While writer Sarojini Sahu was awarded with Binapani Mohanty Katha Sahitya Puraskara’ and writer Chittaranjan Chiranjit and poet Manoj Meher were awarded ‘Subrat Rath Smaraki Puraskar’.
Orissa High Court Chief Justice S Muralidhar was the chief guest on the occasion
Prasanta Patnaik 
Simanchal 