Modern Age Poet Bishnupada Sethi will be conferred with this year’s Bhima Bhoi Sruti Samman.
1995 batch IAS Officer, Mr.Sethi will be honoured at a ceremony organised by the Bhima Bhoi Samadhipitha Trust (BBST)at the Magha Mela at Khaliapali in Sonepur district on 30 January.
Mr.Sethi is now Secretary Rural Development, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) and Managing Director Odisha State Disaster Management authority (OSDMA).
Mr.Sethi will be honoured for his creativity in literature, especially his beautiful poems.
An ardent follower of Mahima Dharma, Mr.Sethi has all along supported the Philosophy of the Saint Poet Bhima Bhoi.
Mr.Sethi has published three books of his poetry collections – Where Shall I Go, My World of Words and Beyond Feelings.
The first one Where Shall I Go, published in 2005, became so popular that it was translated in Urdu and Odia, said sources.
BBST Trustee Chhatradhari Agrawal said Mr.Sethi had been a source of strength for all those, who strived to work for the Mahima Dharma.
His articles on the saint poet and his own poems speak volume for his versatility as a writer, Mr. Agrawal said.
Mr.Sethi has helped in his own way for the development of Bhima Bhoi Samadhipitha.
Mr.Sethi while serving as the District Collector of Subarnapur helped in reconstruction of the Sadhanapitha, the Complex where Saint Poet Bhima Bhoi wrote poetry.
The place was in a dilapidated condition and Mr.Sethi extended his all out support for the institution.
It was due to his initiative the Trust came into existence and the institution is promoting the
Agrawal further said Mahima Samman would be conferred on Mahima Dharma follower Milu Tandy, while Bhima Bhoi Kala Samman will be conferred on painter Shyam Sundar Meher.
The Bhima Bhoi Sahitya Samman will be conferred on researcher Braja Mohan Dani, said Mr.Agarwal.
