Ashutosh Parida to Receive 47th Sarala Puraskar

Odia poet, essayist and former CSIR-IMMT scientist Dr. Ashutosh Parida has been selected for the 47th Sarala Puraskar for his poetry collection Bishwas De Pruthwi. The award ceremony is scheduled in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on 25 October 2026, and the honour carries a citation, a copper plaque and a cash prize of Rs 7 lakh.

Sarala Puraskar

The Sarala Puraskar is a literary award associated with Odisha and is presented by the Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT), the charitable arm of IMFA. The award recognises works in Odia literature and is among the prominent literary honours in the state.

Selection Process and Shortlist

Dr. Parida’s book was chosen from a final shortlist of seven books compiled in 2026. The shortlist included works by Aparna Mohanty, Padmaja Pal and Archana Nayak, along with other writers considered by the jury.

Other Awards Announced by IMPaCT

IMPaCT also announced the 2026 Ila-Bansidhar Panda Kala Samman for lifetime excellence in the arts. The recipients are Odissi maestro Guru Durga Charan Ranbir and sculptor Damodar Behera, and each award carries a citation, a copper plaque and a cash prize of Rs 2.5 lakh.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Sarala Puraskar is linked with Odia literature and is administered by the Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust.
• Dr. Ashutosh Parida is known as a poet, essayist and former scientist at CSIR-IMMT.
• Bishwas De Pruthwi was published by Prabha Publication in 2024.
• The Ila-Bansidhar Panda Kala Samman is given for lifetime excellence in the arts.

Jury and Award Details

The final literary jury included Dr. Sucheta Mishra, Dr. Hrushikesh Mallick, Sangram Jena, Swapna Mishra, Prof. Dr. Natabar Satapathy, Dr. Sarojini Sahoo and Ajay Kumar Mohapatra. The award ceremony for both honours is fixed for 25 October 2026 in Bhubaneswar.