Bhubaneswar: 27 October 2013: Odisha Living Legend Awards instituted by OdishaDiary (www.orissadiary.com) will be conferred on leading individuals and groups that made unique contribution to different walks of life in the state of Odisha. In 11 different categories this year’s awards panel has chosen the best candidates in their respective fields.
On the ninth foundation day on November 13, OdishaDiary will confer Odisha Living Legend Award 2013 to inspiring legends to recognise excellent work by leading Odias. This year leading Odias like Ambassador Lalit Mansingh, artist PK Mahanandia, novelist Pratibha Ray, social activist Mohammad Abdul Bari, corporate honcho Sarthak Beuria, educationist & reformer Dr. Arun Rath, scientist Dr.Priyambda Hejmadi, journalist & academic Dr. Mrinal Chaterjee, renowned Artist Kailash Chandra Meher and film maker Sabyasachi Mohapatra are to receive the Living Legend Awards. This year the award ceremony will be held on 13 November 2013 at Jaydev Bhawan.
Odisha Living Legend Awardees, 2013
• Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in Public Policy): Amb. Lalit Mansingh
• Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in Social Service): Mohammad Abdul Bari
• Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in NRO): Dr. PK Mahanandia
• Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in Business Leadership): Sarthak Beuria
• Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in Promoting Education): Dr. Arun Rath
• Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in Science Promotion): Dr. Priyambda Hejmadi
• Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in Promoting Journalism): Dr. Mrinal Chaterjee
• Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in Promoting Art & Culture): Kailash Chandra Meher
• Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in Literature): Dr. Pratibha Ray
• Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in Film Industry): Sabyasachi Mohapatra
• Odisha Living Legend Award (Special Citation): Solila Parida.
On the sixth foundation day in 2011, OdishaDiary had established Odisha Living Legend Award to recognise excellent work by leading Odias. Leading Odias like Tualsi Munda, Sitakanta Mohaptra, Jharana Das, Dilip Tirkey, Uttam Moahnty and Sudarsan Patnaik etc have received Living Legend Awards in the past.
For details on the 2011, 2012 awardees and the updates on the 2013 Living Legend Awards please visit OdishaDiary at http://orissadiary.com/odisha-living-legend-2013/
Brief Profile of Living Legends 2013
Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in Public Policy): Ambassador Lalit Mansingh
Ambassador Mansingh has served at the highest levels of foreign affairs for India and with great distinction has represented Odisha and India globally. He served as India’s Foreign Secretary, Ambassador to the United States and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Born on 29 April 1941, Ambassador Mansingh graduated in History and obtained a Master’s degree in Political Science. He was awarded the University’s Gold Medals for securing the top position in both subjects.
Ambassador Mansingh is a member of an international group called the Non Official Group of Friends (NGF) of Sri Lanka which aims at assisting that country in its post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation. He is also part of an ongoing Track II process between India, Pakistan and Afghanistan under the Ottawa Dialogue. Odisha Living Legend Award acknowledges the excellent work done by Amb Mansingh as a policy maker, thinker in International Relations and an excellent promoter of Odisha’s and India’s softpower at the global stage.
Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in Social Service): Shri Md Abdul Bari, Odisha
Shri Md. Abdul Bari, is from Bhadrak and is a great community leader and social activist. He has tirelessly worked towards community harmony. He has engaged the police, administration and the communities to maintain peace and unity in the locality. Shri Bari played a significant role in restoring peace and communal harmony in Bhadrak after the communal riots in 1991 and at the time of the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992. As a result of the indefatigable efforts of Shri Abdul Bari, No Untoward incidents took place in his district at the time of the Godhra Killings in 2002 or after the murder of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati in Kandhamal District in 2008. In 2011, Shri Bari was instrumental in containing the potential communally violent situation in Bhadrak town on the occasions of Id-Miladun-Nabi and Ram Navami festivals.
Mr. Bari’s brilliant work has been appreciated and recognised at the state and national levels. The President of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee has recently conferred on him the prestigious National Communal Harmony Award 2011. OdishaDiary acknowledges Bari’s excellent and inspiring work in communal harmony and proud to felicitate him as a Living Legend.
Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in NRO): Dr. PK Mahanandia
PK Mahanandia is a great artist and an excellent cultural ambassador of Odisha. Globally known for his rural and tribal touch to his art, Dr. Mahanandia is a household name in Sweden and continues to inspire people across continents. His message of simplicity in his art and his Love for the larger humanity is transformative and transcendental at the same time.
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His famous cycle journey from Delhi to Sweden to meet his beloved is now a legend and perhaps the best ever example of love, sacrifice and commitment. He exemplifies the same qualities today after being married to a royalty and being a Swedish citizen.
Odisha Living Legend Award recognises Dr. Mahanandia as an Excellent Cultural Ambassador of Odisha in Europe and acknowledges his inspiring contribution to the next generation of Odias.
Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in Business Leadership): Mr. Sarthak Behuria
Sarthak Behuria, a Stephenian and an IIMA graduate, is a thinker and visionary leader. Former Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation (2005-2010) and the Current Group President at the KK Modi Group, Mr. Behuria is nationally and globally known for his philosophy of people centric participatory management and excellence in team work.
During his five years at Indian Oil, he played a leadership role in transforming the PSU to be a national leader and a global giant in the industry. In the Fortune Global Ranking, the IOC did exceptionally well by rising 65 positions from 170 in 2005 to 105 in 2009. The Company became the first in India to cross the turnover of the USD 50 billion mark in 2006-07 and crossed USD 60 billion in 2008-09. Largely credit goes to Mr. Behuria’s visionary leadership and unique management style.
OdishaDiary acknowledges Mr Behuria’s excellent work in Business Leadership and especially takes note of the important role he played in shaping IOC’s Rs. 30, 000 crore Paradeep Refinery Project which is to be started in 2014 and is the single largest project ever executed by any PSU in India.
Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in Promoting Education): Dr. Arun Kumar Rath
Prof Arun Kumar Rath is a leading policy maker, an excellent educator and above all a brilliant institution builder. During his deputation to Food Corporation of India as Head of Odisha Region Dr Rath’s work was commended for placing Odisha in the national map in food procurement and infrastructure development in the State. Based upon his outstanding career and achievements Government of India promoted Dr Rath to the level of Secretary. As Secretary to Govt. of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Dr. Rath contributed to enactment of the long-awaited Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009, which has been hailed as landmark legislation in independent India.
Dr Rath played an excellent role in shaping the School of Public Policy and Governance at MDI Gurgaon. OdishaDiary acknowledges Prof Rath’s excellent contribution as a civil servant, as an educator and as an institution builder. The Living Legend Award takes special note of his work for The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, popularly known as RTE Act 2009 and his institution building work at the School of Public Policy and Governance at MDI Gurgaon.
Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in Science Promotion): Dr. Priyambda Hejmadi
Padma Shri Prof Priyambada Hejmadi is a multidimensional personality who excelled as a dancer, scientist, academic and a leader in promotion of quality education. As a Professor of Zoology at Utkal University and as the Vice Chancellor of Sambalpur University she has been an inspiration in Zoological Research. As a World Renowned expert on amphibians and reptiles, Prof Hejmadi’s work on Olive Ridley Turtles is legendary and has made great impact on conservation of the endangered species. She has been inspiration as a scientist, as a dancer and as a great woman of learning. Odisha Living Legend Award acknowledges her excellent contribution to the field of science.
Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in Promoting Journalism): Dr. Mrinal Chatterjee
Prof Mrinal Chatterjee is an inspiring name in Odisha Media. He has left his legacy in wherever he has worked be it print, radio or television. As a journalist and then an editor he has inspired a generation of young journalists and continues to do so in his current capacity as the Head of IIMC Odisha at Dhenkanal. He has written extensively for leading newspapers of Odisha like that of Sambad and The Samaj. His recent book History of Journalism in Odisha is a pioneering contribution to the field.
Odisha Living Legend Award acknowledges Prof Chatterjee’s work in journalism, teaching and publishing and above all his inspiring and leadership role at IIMC Dhenkanal.
Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in Promoting Art & Culture): Mr. Kailash Chandra Meher
Padma Shri Kailash Chandra Meher is an inspiring name in Modern Odia Art. Multiple Award winner, Mr. Meher is a great advocate of inclusive art where he engages with the under-privileged sections of Odia society. He has created several platforms for the poor and women weavers of Odisha especially in the districts of KBK. Shilip Guru Meher is an inspiration for young artists and has been an influential figure in popularising Odisha’s contemporary Art in India and abroad.
Odisha Living Legend Award acknowledges Mr. Meher’s excellent contribution to promote Odia Modern Art and advocate empowerment and inclusion in art.
Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in Literature): Dr. Pratibha Ray
Padma Shri Dr. Pratibha Ray is a leading voice in Odia Literature. For more than four decades she has enriched Odia literature through her novels and short stories. Known for her great works like Yajnaseni, she has received several national and global awards notably Sahitya Akademi and Jnanpith Award.
Odisha Living Legend Award acknowledges the great and inspiring contribution by Dr. Ray to Odia literature. Personal Website: http://www.pratibharay.org
Odisha Living Legend Award (Excellence in Film Industry): Mr. Sabyasachi Mohapatra
Mr. Mohaptra is a master story teller and a director par-excellence. His inspiring work started with internationally acclaimed Bhukha in (1989) and in last 25 years he has directed many other much-admired movies and has earned a national reputation for novelty and brilliance. His recent direction Sala Budha (Stupid Oldman), a Sambalpuri-Kosli Film is a testimony to his undying passion for originality and creativity. Like Bhukha, Sala Budha is breaking new ground in regional cinema and has been selected for many Film Festivals including prestigious 44th International Film Festival of India (2013), Goa.
Odisha Living Legend Award acknowledges Mr. Sabyasachi Mohaptra’s ground breaking work in Film Direction and his excellent contribution to the Odia/Sambalpuri Film Industry.
Odisha Living Legend Award (Special Citation): Ms. Solila Parida
Solila Parida is a New York based Film Maker. She is one among few India born producers to produce successful Hollywood films. Born in Berhampur town of Odisha, Solila Parida, has been settled in the US for last two decades. She has been making international movies for the global market in English with both Hollywood and Bollywood stars. “Desires of the Heart” is her fourth feature film after producing “Vishkanya”, “Koi Hai” and “Bandit Lovers”. Odisha Living Legend Award acknowledges her work as a passionate film maker.
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