THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 19, 2026
In a celebration of poetic imagination, literary excellence
and the enduring richness of Odia culture, the 47th Sarala Puraskar will honour
noted poet, essayist and former CSIR-IMMT scientist Dr Ashutosh Parida for his
acclaimed poetry collection Bishwas De
Pruthwi. Published in 2024 by Prabha Publication, the collection has earned
the distinction for its literary brilliance and deep cultural resonance,
placing Parida among the most celebrated voices in contemporary Odia
literature.
The prestigious honour, one of Odisha’s most respected
literary awards, will be conferred on Parida at a ceremony in Bhubaneswar on
October 25, 2026. Instituted by the Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust
(IMPaCT) in 1980, the Sarala Puraskar carries a cash prize of Rs 7 lakh, along
with a citation and a copper plaque.
The selection of Parida’s work comes after a competitive
shortlist featuring seven remarkable literary works representing a rich
spectrum of Odia writing, including poetry, stories, novels, short stories and
drama. The final jury, comprising eminent writers and academics, chose Bishwas De Pruthwi for its exceptional
literary quality and its resonance with Odisha’s cultural and social ethos.
The announcement also brought recognition for outstanding contributions to the arts, with IMPaCT declaring the Ila-Bansidhar Panda Kala Samman 2026. The prestigious lifetime achievement honour will be jointly conferred on Odissi maestro and Padma Shri awardee Guru Durga Charan Ranbir and renowned sculptor-educator Damodar Behera. Each recipient will receive Rs 2.5 lakh, a citation and a copper plaque.
Through these honours, IMPaCT, the charitable arm of IMFA, continues its longstanding commitment to nurturing Odisha’s literary, artistic and cultural traditions. Its contribution to the state’s cultural landscape extends beyond the Sarala Puraskar, with the trust also instituting the Ekalabya Puraskar in 1993 to recognise sporting excellence.
