The results of the state-level Pradyumna Bal Prativa Vikash Competition, organised to mark the 94th birth anniversary of the noted journalist and value-based leader Pradyumna Bal, have been announced.
More than 10,000 students from across Odisha and beyond participated in the online essay and painting contests held in junior, middle, and senior categories.
The competition, advertised on September 15 with submissions closing on October 25, drew an enthusiastic response. Topics included “Mother and Motherland are Greater than Heaven” (or “My Motherland”) for the junior essay category, “Education is Freedom” for the middle category, and “Nature’s Fury and Our Responsibility” for the senior category. The junior painting theme required students to depict Mahatma Gandhi (Father of the Nation), Shaheed Bhagat Singh, the President of India, and “My Favourite Game” in a single frame.
An initial evaluation committee headed by Pragativadi’s News Editor Lalitendu Pattnaik, with senior sub-editors Sashibhushan Sahu and Manoranjan Das, shortlisted the top 100 entries. An eight-member jury led by Professor Bijay Ranjan Singh — comprising Professor Kamal Prasad Mahapatra, Professor Ranjan Pradhan, researcher Himadri Tanaya Mishra, Sarat Chandra Pradhan, publisher Shibashish Kar, and noted artists Professor Basen Tudu and Professor Nigamananda Swain — then selected the winners. Each category awarded first, second, and third prizes along with two special jury prizes.
Senior Essay
Annapurna Tripathi of Sarvati Devi Mahila College, Rajgangpur (Sundargarh) secured first place. Nasith Podh of GM University, Sambalpur, finished second, and Deeptiman Panda of Chital Degree College, Jajpur, took third. Bhumika Sahu of Mayurbhanj College of Accountancy and Management, Baripada, and Dikshita Giri of Government Mahila College, Baripada, received the special jury prizes.
Middle Essay
Prasanjit Dhala of Narasingh Choudhury Higher Secondary School, Jajpur, claimed first place. Harshit Hridayajyoti Nayak of Ghatagada Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya came second, while Satyajit Sahu of BJB English Medium School, Bhubaneswar, stood third. Smrutishikha Parida of Government Girls School, Nayagarh, and Archita Priyadarshini Swain of Achyuta Higher Secondary School, Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar, won the special jury awards.
Junior Essay
Aditya Anshuman Atibudh of Patanda Shankarshan Government High School, Cuttack, emerged first. Pratish Pattnaik of St. Joseph School, Bhubaneswar, took second, and Priyanshi Popat of Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Deogarh, finished third. Kisar Sanju Rait of Bhubaneswar and Shlok Behera of Mirzapur Shishu Sainik Vidyalaya, Jajpur, received the special jury prizes.
Painting
Chetana Padhi of DAV Public School, Unit-8, Bhubaneswar, won first prize. Krishna Das of Upperdia Government UP School, Balasore, secured second, and Prabhu Prasad Biswal of Saraswati Shishu Bidya Mandir, Manishree Bihar, Gunupur, took third. Sanabhika Swain of River Bank International School, Nimapada (Puri), and Swastik Swain of St. Xavier High School, Gop (Kendrapada), were selected for the special jury awards.
Professor Bijay Ranjan Singh congratulated all winners and participants, noting that the standard of entries was exceptionally high and that participation itself was the bigger achievement. Other jury members praised the creativity and commitment shown by the students.
The prizes will be distributed on Saturday, November 7, during the state-level Pradyumna Bal Jayanti celebration at the Pragativadi office premises in Mancheswar Industrial Area, Bhubaneswar. The programme begins at 10:30 a.m.
Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy will grace the occasion as chief guest. Other dignitaries expected to attend include Opposition Deputy Leader Prasanna Acharya, former Union Minister Srikant Jena, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, and MLA Sarada Pradhan.
The day-long event will include an inaugural session with the prize distribution, discussions on people’s movements and sports, the Pradyumna Bal Memorial Lecture by Justice Dr. S. Muralidhar (former Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court and senior Supreme Court advocate), and the presentation of the Pradyumna Bal Memorial Award.
