Kabi Brajanath Rath Awards–2026 Announced : 'Saraswata Samman' for Prafulla Tripathy; 'Smruti Samman' for Basudev Sunani; 'Smruti Felicitation' for Kalipada Pradhan
Balasore, January 4 (Krushna Kumar Mohanty): A meeting of the Kabi Brajanath Rath Foundation Trust was held at the Biswatara Hall, Balasore, under the chairmanship of retired professor Dr Ramakanta Nayak. The meeting was attended by several eminent poets, writers, and members of the Trust from Balasore.
After due deliberation, the Trust announced the awards for the year 2026. Eminent writer and linguistic Dr Prafulla Kumar Tripathy has been selected for the ‘Kabi Brajanath Rath Saraswata Samman’. Renowned poet Dr Basudev Sunani will receive the ‘Kabi Brajanath Rath Smruti Samman’.
Translator Dr Kalipada Pradhan, who has translated the works of poet Brajanath Rath into Bengali, will be honoured with the ‘Kabi Brajanath Rath Smruti Felicitation’.
In addition, Laxman Chandra Bardhan, a close associate of poet Dr Rath and linked with Biswashree Press, will also be felicitated on the occasion.
It may be noted that every year on January 12, marking the birth anniversary of poet Dr Brajanath Rath and the foundation day of the Biswatara Odia Research Library established by him, these honours are conferred. The Saraswata Samman carries a cash award of ₹25,000, while the Smruti Samman carries ₹5,000, along with a citation and ceremonial shawl.
The award announcement meeting was attended by trustee Smt Pushpalata Rath and Trust members
Manaswini Devi, Byomanath Rath, Bidhunath Rath, Brahmanath Rath, Dr Mrutyunjaya Mishra, Dr Kalikinga Dash, Dr Arabinda Giri, Dr Sirish Chandra Jena, Dr Subas Chandra Patra, novelist Srustidhar Parida, writer Dr Radharanjan Patnaik, dramatist Hemendra Mahapatra, short story writer Pushpanjali Nayak, poet Abhay Das, engineer Hrushikesh Sahu, among others.
This year, the 91st birth anniversary of poet Dr Brajanath Rath and the 19th foundation day of the Biswatara Odia Research Library will be observed on January 12 at the poet’s residence, ‘Brajabhumi’, according to information shared by Trust member Byomanath Rath.
