Bhubaneswar: The National Book Trust, India has recently announced the results of the national-level contest organized on the theme of democracy under the PM-YUVA 2.0 Mentorship Scheme. And Odia author Rojalin Mohanty has earned laurel for being the only Odia writer among the selected 44 authors to receive the scholarship of Rs 50,000 per month for six months.
It is noteworthy to mention that the Ministry of Education along with the National Book Trust had launched PM-YUVA Mentorship Scheme 2.0 to groom young and budding authors below 30 years of age for the Year 2022-23 with the National Book Trust, India, as the implementing agency.
Aimed at creating a pool of authors who can express themselves and project India on international platforms, the scheme had asked authors to write on various facets of democracy in India encompassing the past, present and future.
Rojalin and other contestants have been asked to submit a manuscript of 5,000 words to judge their suitability to develop as a proper book under the scheme. Rojalin’s manuscript in Odia language has been selected among other 44 authors.
And National Book Trust will publish the book produced by young author as part of the Mentorship Scheme.
Talking to Ommcom News, Rojalin said, “My happiness knew no bounds when I came to know that my manuscript on Mayurbhanj King Maharaja Sriramchandra Bhanj Deo has been selected for publication by NBT. That’s not all. It will be published in other languages. Thanks to the scheme and NBT, I got the opportunity to attend World Book Fair at Pragati Maidan in Delhi on February 10 and meet honourable President Droupadi Murmu the next day. It was an immense honour for a writer like me to meet the President. President also appreciated our efforts in documenting the hitherto underrepresented parts of freedom struggle.”
Daughter of Kumarbar Mohanty and Sudhanshubala Mohanty, Bhubaneswar-based Rojalin has carved a niche as an anchor in Doordarshan and All India Radio. Besides, she is known for writing short stories and poems in Odia.
Rojalin has been felicitated with Katha Nabapratibha and Kadambini Nabaunmesha awards for her contribution in Odia literature.
