Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Eight Padma Awardees Felicitated at Matira Mahak in Sambalpur
A big leader named Dharmendra Pradhan came to a city called Sambalpur for a special event called 'Matira Mahak'.
At the event, he gave honours to eight people who had won Padma awards.
Padma awards are big national prizes given to people who do wonderful work.
The honoured people are from western Odisha.
They worked in folk art, literature, agriculture, education, and helping people.
Pradhan said these awards now go to real heroes from villages, not just people in big cities.
He told young people to learn about the brave history of Odisha and its freedom fighters.
He also wants to build a new arts college in Sambalpur.
The college would be named after a famous writer named Murari Mishra.
It would teach dance, literature, and modern digital art.
Dharmendra Pradhan, Sambalpur MP and former Union minister, felicitated eight Padma awardees from western Odisha at the 'Matira Mahak' programme.
The event was held at the Rangabati Manch of Gangadhar Meher University in Sambalpur.
Pradhan said Padma awards have become a 'People's Award' under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure, honouring achievers from villages.
He urged the younger generation to study Odisha's history and the valour of freedom fighters such as Veer Surendra Sai and Buxi Jagabandhu.
Pradhan proposed a collective effort to establish an arts college in Sambalpur named after Sanskrit dramatist Murari Mishra.
- Who
- Dharmendra Pradhan, Sambalpur MP and former Union minister, and eight Padma awardees from western Odisha
- What
- Felicitation of the Padma awardees at the 'Matira Mahak' programme, along with calls to honour Odisha's culture and a proposal for an arts college
- When
- Saturday
- Where
- Rangabati Manch of Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, Odisha
- Why
- To honour the awardees' dedication and contributions and to inspire society and the younger generation
- Event
- Matira Mahak
- Venue
- Rangabati Manch, Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur
- Chief Guest
- Dharmendra Pradhan (MP, former Union minister)
- Number of Awardees
- 8
- Awardees
- Bhagabat Padhan, Srinivas Udgata, Pattayat Sahu, Haldhar Nag, Jitendra Haripal, Mitrabhanu Gauntia, Kailash Chandra Meher, Mahendra Kumar Mishra
- Proposed College
- Arts college in Sambalpur named after Sanskrit dramatist Murari Mishra
- Date
- Saturday