Odia author Baishnab Charan Samal to receive Sahitya Akademi Award

Bhubaneswar, Dec 18: Renowned Odia literary figure Baishnab Charan Samal has been chosen to receive the esteemed Sahitya Akademi Award for 2024. He is being recognized for his thought-provoking essay collection titled Bhuti Bhakti Bibhuti, which delves into spiritual themes and humanistic reflections, earning widespread acclaim. Samal is celebrated as a principled essayist and critic within the literary community.

The award will consist of an engraved copper plaque presented in a decorative casket, a shawl, and a cash prize of ₹1,00,000. The formal presentation ceremony is scheduled for March 8, 2025, at Kamani Auditorium in New Delhi, as announced by the Sahitya Akademi.

Born on February 27, 1939, in Charigaon, Cuttack, Samal entered the literary scene with his poem Neta Kie. He began writing essays and critiques around 1964-65, with his first essay, Marutirtha, receiving significant recognition. Over the years, his works have appeared in various publications.

A dedicated educator, Samal commenced his teaching career at Fakir Mohan University in 1966 and retired as a professor from Visva Bharati Central University in 2004. His contributions to Odia literature have garnered numerous accolades, including the Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award in 2002, the Bishub Award in 2017, and the Sarala Award in 2014, among others. He has also received the Gopinath Nanda Prabhanda, Samalochana Award, and Kshetrabasi Sahitya Vidya Puraskar.