Eminent Odia poet Soubhagya Kumar Mishra was honoured with the prestigious Gangadhar National Award for Poetry here.
The award, conferred by Sambalpur University, was presented to Mishra on the occasion of the 48th foundation day of the University here yesterday.
Named after Odisha's famous poet Gangadhar Meher, the award is given to a poet of national repute every year during the foundation day function of the University.
Union Minister of Petroleum and natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan presented the award to Mishra.
Receiving the prestigious award, distinguished poet Mishra said, "Gangadhar Meher is a great poet and his contribution to the Indian tradition and literature is unparalleled."
He said Gangadhar Meher represented great Odia poetic tradition.
Earlier, eminent poets such as Alli Sardar Zafri, Kedar Nath Singh, Ayyapa Panikar, Shakti Chottopadhyaya, K. Sachidanandan, Dillip Chitre, Jayanta Mohapatra, Gulzar, Nabakanta Barua, Prof A. M. K. Shahryar, Nirupama Kaur, Binda Karandikar, Haraprasad Dash, Ramakant Rath, Surjit Patar, Rajendra Kishore Panda, Balraj Komal, Vasdev Mohi have received this award for their excellence in the field of poetry.
