Bhubaneswar: Four persons from Odisha will receive the Padma Shri this year for their distinguished services in their respective fields.
The list of Padma Award winners released by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday included the names Gopinath Swain, a Krishna Leela artiste from Ganjam district; Bhagabat Padhan, an exponent of Sabda Nrutya folk dance from Bargarh; Binod Maharana, an eminent ‘Pattachitra’ artist from Khurda; and Binod Kumar Pasayat, a lyricist and dramatist from Sambalpur.
Gopinath Swain has spent his entire life to preserve and promote the tradition of Krishna Leela singing. Hailing from a family of Krishna Leela performers, Gopinath has sung and taught five ancient ragas, including Dakhinasri, Chinta Desakhya, Todi Bhatiari, Kumbha Kamodi and Bhatari. Gopinath (105) also established Akhadas and imparted training to hundreds of disciples.
Bhagabat Padhan has dedicated over five decades of his life to promoting and popularising the folk dance Sabda Nrutya – the dance of Mahadev. Bhagabat (85) has also trained more than 600 dancers in Sabda Nrutya.
Binod Maharana was honoured with the Dharmapada Award by Odia Language Literature and Culture Department in 2019. He is a traditional painter working in tempera medium.
Binod Kumar Pasayat is a hair-dresser by profession and started his literary career in Sambalpur. He rose to fame with the famous Sambalpuri play, ‘Mui Nai Mare’ (I will never die). Besides this, he has written many hit Sambalpuri numbers, including songs for Odia films ‘Samarpan’, ‘Adivasi’ and ‘Para Stri’.
Here is the list of Padma Awards Winners of 2024:
