The glittering ballroom of Mayfair Lagoon witnessed a momentous celebration of Odia excellence as Kalinga Digital Media and VARINDIA hosted the prestigious Jewels of Odisha 2026 awards ceremony. The event, held as part of the 17th Odisha Information and Technology Fair (OITF), honored fifty distinguished personalities whose extraordinary contributions across diverse fields have brought immense pride to the state.
Hon'ble Shri Rabi Narayan Behera, Member of Parliament, graced the occasion as Chief Guest, lending dignity and significance to an evening that celebrated not just individual achievement but Odisha's collective spirit of innovation, resilience, and cultural richness.
HONORING EXCELLENCE ACROSS DOMAINS
The centerpiece of the evening was the felicitation of fifty luminaries spanning an impressive spectrum of excellence—from scientists and educators to artists and social reformers, from pioneering entrepreneurs to sports champions. Among the distinguished honorees were Dr. Kailash Chandra Sahu, the NASA scientist who became the first to measure an isolated black hole; Debashis Das, Odisha's first Chess Grandmaster; environmental crusader Gopinath Singh, who transformed 160 hectares of barren land into thriving forest; and business visionary Surendra Nath Panda, who built Bharat Masala into a Rs. 1,000-crore empire from a humble Rs. 1,000 investment.
The gathering also celebrated youth excellence, with six-year-old prodigies Anvi Agrawal (Creative Arts) and fourteen- year- old Ayushman Nanda (Technology Innovation) proving that age is no barrier to greatness. Padma Shri awardees including Dr. Damayanti Beshra (Cultural Preservation), Dr. Ashok Kumar Mahapatra (Healthcare Excellence), Durga Charan Ranbir (Classical Dance), and Pratibha Satpathy (Literary Excellence) added gravitas to an already stellar lineup.
Women achievers shone brilliantly, with fifteen exceptional personalities—including Manasi Pradhan (Women's Rights), Minati Mohapatra (Sports Pioneering), Sujata Mohapatra (Classical Dance), and Dr. Padmini Panigrahi (Social Entrepreneurship)—demonstrating that Odia women are breaking barriers across every domain.
FACE OF ODISHA 2026: DHARMENDRA PRADHAN
The evening's most anticipated moment arrived with the conferment of the "Face of Odisha 2026" special recognition upon Hon'ble Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education and Member of Parliament from Sambalpur. The award honored his transformative leadership—from the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana that liberated 80 million households to his current stewardship of the National Education Policy 2020—embodying how a son of Odisha can carry the state's values to the nation's highest forums while creating lasting impact.
CULTURAL HERITAGE CELEBRATED
True to its mission of honoring both innovation and tradition, Jewels of Odisha 2026 dedicated significant space to celebrating ten vibrant folk dance forms of Odisha—including Ghumura, Kela Keluni, and Jodi Sankha—ensuring that as the state strides into a technology- driven future, its cultural soul remains alive and celebrated. Cultural performances during the evening brought these traditions to life, mesmerizing the audience with rhythmic movements that have connected generations for centuries.
A COFFEE TABLE BOOK FOR POSTERITY
The official launch of the 4th edition of the Jewels of Odisha 2026 coffee table book marked another highlight of the evening. This beautifully curated publication profiles all fifty honorees alongside the ten folk dance forms, preserving their journeys for future generations. The book serves not merely as documentation but as inspiration—showing young Odias across villages and cities that excellence emerges from dedication, not privilege.
THE OITF CONNECTION
As part of the 17th Odisha Information and Technology Fair, Jewels of Odisha 2026 perfectly complemented the broader theme of celebrating Odisha's transformation into a technology and innovation hub. The gathering of IT leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and achievers created a unique confluence where technological progress met cultural heritage, where global ambitions honored local roots.
A VISION FULFILLED
Speaking at the event, Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Kalinga Digital Media emphasized that Jewels of Odisha represents more than an awards ceremony— it is a movement documenting excellence, inspiring dreams, and building the collective pride that propels a state forward. The evening proved that when Odisha celebrates its jewels, it doesn't just honor past achievements; it illuminates pathways for countless others to follow. As the evening concluded with standing ovations and emotional moments of recognition, one truth resonated powerfully: Odisha's greatest strength has always been its people—their resilience, their innovation, and their unwavering commitment to excellence while remaining rooted in values that define the state's soul.
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