Bhubaneswar: Sarala Yuva Puraskar has been conferred to Mahima Sethi by the Sarala Sahitya Sansad at Cuttack today in a ceremonial function.
This prize includes one citation, 25 thousand cash and a shawl. A seminar was also organized to review the recently published English Poetry Book “Ink From Night Skies”.
Chief Guest Prof. Rajendra Prasad Mohanty in his address after conferring the prize said the literary work endowed with lot of passion, thought and experience. She is an inclusive poet and her thought, ideas and feelings are reflected in her poetry.
Responding to the honour Ms. Mahima, an IITian expressed her gratitude and told that she developed deep passion for poetry since childhood, inspired by her parents.
Eminent English Writer and educationist Prof. Prafulla Kumar Mohanty focusing on her work said that the thought reflected in the poems are more matured than her age. Among other dignitaries, Dr. Provakar Palaka, Prof. of English in Delhi University quoting her works said that her poetry lives in the human suffering, sorrows, feelings and sentiments.
He also expressed that Mahima is a strong voice of feminism in the making. In this function, Prof. S. Armstrong of Madras University cited that her poetry is full of human touch. Noted poet in English Dr. Ravindra K. Swain titled her poetry as erasure of her rage.
Eminent writer and poet Dr. Basudev Sunani introduced the guests and delivered his welcome address in the function.
This seminar was Chaired by Dr. Pravakar Swain, the founder and President of Sarala Sahitya Sansad while Prof. Niranjan Tripathy, the Secretary of the Sansad proposed the vote of thanks. The program was well attended by a learned audience.