BHUBANESWAR: Noted Odia poet Ashutosh Parida was conferred the 47th Sarala Puraskar for his poetry collection ‘Bishwas De Pruthwi’ here on Sunday.
Instituted by the Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT), the award recognises outstanding literary achievement in Odia literature.
The award was presented by renowned Indian lyricist, poet and novelist R Vairamuthu. It comprises a copper plaque, a citation and a cash prize of `7 lakh. The winning collection was published by Parabha Publication.
Eminent Odissi maestro Guru Durga Charan Ranbir and sculptor and art educator Damodar Behera were honoured with the Ila-Bansidhar Panda Kala Samman for their lifetime contributions to performing and visual arts, respectively. Each recipient received a citation, a copper plaque and `2.5 lakh.
Expressing his thoughts after receiving the award, Parida spoke about the relationship between science and poetry, underlining that the two disciplines share a common foundation in human curiosity and imagination.
“I have often been asked why, having chosen a career in science, I write poetry. But science and poetry are not opposites. They share human curiosity and imagination. I have never felt any conflict between them. For me, poetry is a journey into human memory, a way of bringing a beautiful world back to life,” he said.
Vairamuthu, recently named the recipient of the 2026 Jnanpith Award, emphasised the importance of preserving one’s mother tongue and cultural identity. “Language is a culture and it lives in continuity with other cultures. One’s mother tongue is one’s identity. People must protect their language. When a language gains strength, its boundaries expand,” he said.
Jnanpith laureate Pratibha Ray, who attended the event, highlighted the significance of poetry in literature. “I may write novels but I read poetry extensively, as it is the heart of literature and literature cannot exist without it. Where poets run out of words, poetry completes itself, touching the hearts of readers through its sensitivity and emotions,” she said.
IMPaCT trustee Paramita Panda congratulated Parida, describing Bishwas De Pruthwi as a profound reflection on contemporary times. She said social reality has consistently remained at the heart of the poet’s work.
Founded in 1974 by Bansidhar Panda and Ila Panda, IMPaCT has played a significant role in promoting Odia literature and culture. Its initiatives include the Sarala Puraskar, instituted in 1980, the Ila-Bansidhar Panda Kala Samman and the Ekalabya Puraskar.