The Odisha Forum, a New Delhi-based think tank, would confer prestigious ‘Prabasi Odia Samman’ on six eminent persons at its annual function to be held at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in in the national capital on July 13 (Friday).
Forum president Gokul Patnaik informed this on Thursday. The selected six persons are Dr Swarup Ranjan Mishra, a Member of Parliament of Kenya who is also a reputed doctor and social worker; Dr Susmita Mohanty, Space entrepreneur and designer; Dr Pinaki Panigrahi, a doctor-scientist and a pioneer in public health from the USA; Sharon lowen, noted exponent of Odishi dance; Nandita Das, actor, thinker and activist and Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, agricultural scientist and DG, ICAR.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Justice Dipak Misra would grace the function as chief guest. The award function will be followed by a scintillating cultural programme, including a play on “Rasagola”, written and directed by Chittaranjan Tripathy.Among others, forum secretary Pradipta Kumar Sahoo, senior vice-president Amarendra Khatua, VP Sanjeeb Mohanty and adviser Ravi Pani were present at the Press meet.