Bhubaneswar, June 2025 – Odisha is basking in literary pride after two of its emerging voices, Subrat Kumar Senapati and Fagu Baskey, were named recipients of the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar 2025, while Rajkishore Parhi earned the Bal Sahitya Puraskar in Odia.
Subrat Senapati, a lecturer at SOA University and a celebrated short story writer, won for his critically acclaimed Odia short story collection “Kadambabana” (The Kadamba Grove). His stories, rooted in contemporary society, explore identity, marginalization, and inner conflict — often delving into the lives of trans people and LGBTQ+ narratives with sensitivity and nuance.
Fagu Baskey, a teacher and cultural advocate of tribal literature, was awarded for his Santali poetry collection “Ala Saon inj” (translated: Those Words of the Rain). A proud promoter of the Santali script (Ol Chiki), his work draws deep inspiration from tribal folklore, social struggle, and environmental ethos.
Meanwhile, author Rajkishore Parhi earned the Bal Sahitya Puraskar for his children’s poetry book “Kete Phula Phutichhi” (So Many Flowers Bloomed), which celebrates innocence, nature, and imagination through vibrant rhymes.
About the Awards:
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The Yuva Puraskar and Bal Sahitya Puraskar, instituted by the Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Letters), recognize outstanding literary contributions by writers under 35 and for children’s literature, respectively.
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Each winner receives a ₹50,000 cash prize, a copper plaque, and a shawl. The awards will be conferred during an official ceremony in New Delhi later this year.
Reactions:
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi congratulated the winners, calling them “torchbearers of Odisha’s diverse and dynamic literary future.”
Senapati, in a brief interaction, said,
“This award is an acknowledgment not just of my words but of the unheard voices my stories carry.”
Baskey remarked,
“Santali poetry is the breath of our community. I hope this honor amplifies the beauty and struggle of indigenous lives.”
