President Droupadi Murmu Honours Dharmendra Pradhan with Kalinga Ratna Award at Sarala Das Jayanti

Bhubaneswar: President of India Droupadi Murmu today attended the birth anniversary celebrations of Adikabi Sarala Das at Cuttack, where she conferred the prestigious Kalinga Ratna Award 2024 upon Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan in recognition of his contributions to the field of education and public service.

The event, organised by Sarala Sahitya Sansad, commemorated the literary legacy of Adikabi Sarala Das, revered as the first poet of Odia literature and the author of the Sarala Mahabharata. In her address, the President paid heartfelt tribute to Sarala Das, acknowledging his seminal role in enriching Indian literature and regional linguistic heritage.

“I appreciate Sarala Sahitya Sansad for celebrating the birth anniversary of the great poet and organising meaningful literary programs that uphold our cultural values,” President Murmu said.

The President also congratulated Bijaya Nayak, the recipient of the Sarala Samman literary award, for his contribution to the literary domain.

Emphasising the importance of India’s linguistic and cultural diversity, the President stated, “Our diversity is like a rainbow, but our unity has remained strong for ages. Though we have many languages and religions, our sentiments remain one — and the world marvels at our integration.”

Highlighting the role of Indian languages in education, she lauded the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes instruction in the mother tongue. “Education in one’s mother tongue strengthens a child’s bond with their culture and traditions,” she noted, while also encouraging the learning of other languages for holistic development.

The celebration served not only as a tribute to Sarala Das’s literary contributions but also as a reflection on the evolving landscape of education and cultural preservation in India.