Padma Vibhushan for sculptor Sudarshan Sahoo and Padma Shri for five others in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Noted sculptor Sudarshan Sahoo has been selected for

Padma Vibhushan award

2021, for his exceptional and distinguished service in the field of art. Five other eminent persons from Odisha have been selected for

Padma

Shri awards. The Centre announced Padm Awards- the highest civilian awards of India on Monday.


Thanking the

government

for the recognition 83-year-old Sahu said, “I am dedicating this award to Lord Jagannath and the people of Odisha. At the

last leg

of my life I cannot expect anything more than this honour. I am humbled and grateful to the government for this recognition, which will certainly help in motivating many talented artists, who are quitting this traditional work.” Expressing concern over the preservation and protection of monuments in the state, Sahoo urged the state government to take steps for the protection and promotion of art and culture in the state.

The recipients of Padma Shri award from the state included Shanti Devi for social work, Purnamasi Devi for art, Rajat Kumar Kar and Nanda Prusty for literature and education and Dr Krishna Mohan Pathi for medicine.

Among the recipients are unsung heroes like 98-year-old Nada Kishore Prusty who has been teaching

children

for several generations in Kantira village of Sukinda Block in Jajpur district. He started a non-formal school ‘Chatashali’ in his village in 1948 and is still continuing to teach children free of cost.

Shanti Devi, a social worker of Gunupur in Rayagada district had started working for leprosy patients and set up several orphanages. Purnamasi Devi is a devotional singer in Kui language of Charipada in Kandhamal district has sung more than 50,000 songs including bhajans of high moral and social values. Rajat Kumar Kar is an educationist, writer and columnist. Kar is the longest active commentator of

Rath Yatra

in Puri in radio and television for the last 61 years. Dr Krushna Mohan Pathi is the former principal of

MKCG Medical College

in Berhampur and a noted physician.