In a grand ceremony held on July 16, 2025, in Cuttack, Odisha, President Droupadi Murmu presented the prestigious Kalinga Ratna Award-2024 to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The event was a significant cultural occasion, marking the 600th birth anniversary of Adikabi Sarala Das, one of the foremost literary pioneers of Odia literature. Organized by the Sarala Sahitya Sansad, the ceremony celebrated not only the rich heritage of Odisha but also the unifying role of language in India’s cultural fabric.
Dharmendra Pradhan, a native of Odisha and a key architect of India’s current education reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, was honored for his outstanding contributions to education, public service, and the promotion of Indian languages. His role in advocating for mother tongue-based learning and integration of local languages into the mainstream curriculum has been widely praised, aligning closely with the ethos of Sarala Das’s legacy.
Adikabi Sarala Das, often referred to as the father of Odia literature, was remembered during the event for his monumental literary contributions, including the Odia Mahabharata, which brought classical epics to the masses in their own language. The commemoration aimed to inspire future generations to preserve and promote regional languages, literature, and cultural traditions.
President Murmu, in her address, emphasized the need to uphold linguistic diversity and cultural unity, asserting that language is not just a means of communication but a repository of a community’s identity, history, and wisdom. She lauded the efforts of Sarala Sahitya Sansad in keeping Odisha’s literary and cultural traditions alive and dynamic.
The event witnessed participation from prominent writers, scholars, academicians, and cultural personalities from across the country. It served as a platform to reflect on the enduring relevance of regional languages in a rapidly modernizing society and their role in shaping national consciousness.
In receiving the Kalinga Ratna Award, Dharmendra Pradhan reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the foundation of education in India through a culturally rooted and inclusive approach. The ceremony was not only a recognition of individual achievement but a celebration of the enduring power of literature, language, and cultural unity in building a progressive nation.
