Cuttack: President of India,Droupadi Murmu, graced the birth anniversary celebrations of legendary poet Adikabi Sarala Das in Cuttack today and conferred the prestigious Kalinga Ratna Award 2024 upon Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, in recognition of his contributions to public life, education, and cultural preservation.
Speaking at the commemorative event organized by Sarala Sahitya Sansad, President Murmu paid rich tributes to Sarala Das, lauding him as one of the foremost literary figures of India. “By composing the Mahabharata in Odia, Adikabi Sarala Das has not only enriched Indian literature but also empowered generations to access our epics in their own language,” she said.
The President expressed appreciation to Sarala Sahitya Sansad for its continued efforts in honoring Odisha’s literary legacy and for organizing literary programs to mark the poet’s birth anniversary. She also extended her congratulations to Bijaya Nayak, recipient of the ‘Sarala Samman’, a literary award recognizing excellence in Odia literature.
Addressing the gathering, the President reflected on India’s remarkable cultural and linguistic unity. “Our diversity is like a rainbow. We speak many languages, follow different faiths, yet the emotion that binds us as one nation has remained strong for centuries. The world continues to marvel at India’s unity amidst its incredible diversity,” she said.
Murmu emphasized the role of Indian languages in nurturing the nation’s educational and intellectual heritage. Referring to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, she welcomed its focus on imparting education in the mother tongue, saying it would help children remain rooted in their culture and traditions. “At the same time,” she added, “it is equally important to learn other languages to expand one’s knowledge and understanding of the world.”
