Prestigious ‘Mahuri Samman’ Announced: Poet Pritidhara Samal and Fiction Writer Nriparaj Sahu to Receive the Award for 2024 and 2025 Respectively
Balasore, 27/12 (Krushna Kumar Mohanty): The reputed Odia literary magazine Mahuri has announced its prestigious ‘Mahuri Samman’ for two consecutive years. For the year 2024, the award will be conferred on poet Dr Pritidhara Samal, while for the year 2025, it will be presented to noted fiction writer Dr Nruparaj Sahu.
Each year, Mahuri selects one writer who has been a regular contributor to the magazine for this honour. Based on the recommendation of the selection committee, the names of Dr Pritidhara Samal and Dr Nruparaj Sahu have been finalized. Announcing this, Editor-in-Chief Dr Bhawanishankar Nial informed that both writers will be formally felicitated at the Mahuri Mahotsav, scheduled to be held in January 2026.
The biannual literary magazine Mahuri, which has been published regularly since 2008, has in previous years honoured eminent writers such as Bishnupada Sethi, short story writer and novelist Satyapriya Mahalik, poet Sucheta Mishra, distinguished critic Professor Adikanda Sahu, essayist Chandrashekhar Hota, poet Dr Suresh Nayak, poet Lakshminarayan Hota, poet Gayatribala Panda, and poet Ranjan Kumar Das with the Mahuri Samman.
Born in 1973, poet Pritidhara Samal has been actively engaged in literary pursuit since her student days. She has demonstrated equal command over poetry, essays, translation, and contemporary issue-based feature writing. At present, she is working as an Assistant Professor in the Postgraduate Odia Language and Literature Department at Government D.A.V. College, Koraput. So far, she has published five poetry collections, one translated children’s story collection, and a critical prose work titled Language and Style in the Poetry of Ramakanta Rath. Dr Samal is widely recognized as a significant poetic voice in the mainstream of modern Odia poetry. Her exceptional skill in the use of imagery sets her apart. At times lyrical with love and at other times sharp with protest and rebellion, her poetry reflects a deep and sensitive exploration of the female psyche. In recognition of these literary contributions, she has been selected for the Mahuri Samman for 2024.
Similarly, born in 1966, fiction writer Nruparaj Sahu is known among discerning readers as a quiet and committed literary practitioner. He has made his mark in short stories, poetry, essays, and translation. Currently, he is serving as the District Collector of Subarnapur. To date, he has published two short story collections, one poetry collection, and one translated work. Dr Sahu holds a distinct place in contemporary Odia fiction. His stories portray human beings with empathy and originality, while nature often emerges vividly and attractively in his narratives. Noted for strong characterisation and a sensitive concern for justice for the helpless, Dr Sahu has been selected for the Mahuri Samman for 2025, sources said.
