Bhubaneswar: Celebrated Odia literary figure Baishnab Charan Samal has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award for 2024. He will be honored for his essay book Bhuti Bhakti Bibhuti, a work that delves into spiritual contemplation and humanistic sentiments, earning widespread acclaim for its profound insights.
Samal, widely respected as an ethical essayist and critic, has made significant contributions to Odia literature. Born on February 27, 1939, in Charigaon of undivided Cuttack, he began his literary journey with the poem Neta Kie. He transitioned to writing essays and criticism in the mid-1960s, with his first essay, Marutirtha, garnering much appreciation.
The Sahitya Akademi Award, which includes a copper plaque, a shawl, and a cash prize of ₹1,00,000, will be presented to Samal at a ceremony on March 8, 2025, at Kamani Auditorium in New Delhi.
A dedicated educator, Samal began his teaching career at Fakir Mohan University in 1966 and retired as a professor from Visva Bharati Central University in 2004. His prolific literary career has seen his works published in various esteemed magazines and journals, enriching the Odia literary landscape.
Samal’s contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award in 2002, the Sarala Award in 2014, and the Bishub Award in 2017. He has also received the Gopinath Nanda Prabhanda and Samalochana Award and the Kshetrabasi Sahitya Vidya Puraskar.