Bhubaneswar, Jun 3: The Odia Virtual Academy (OVA) on Wednesday felicitated Padma Shri awardee Dr. Mahendra Kumar Mishra for his outstanding contributions to the Odia mother tongue, folklore, and folk culture and literature. In recognition of his lifelong dedication, the Academy declared him its Brand Ambassador during a special programme held at the CYSD Auditorium, officials said.

The event was graced by eminent scholar Dr. Prafulla Kumar Mishra, Prof. Harekrishna Mishra of Shantiniketan, and social worker and former Information Commissioner Jagadananda, who honored Dr. Mishra for his remarkable achievements.

Presiding over the ceremony, OVA Secretary Dr. Pradeep Kumar Raut praised Dr. Mishra’s work and expressed confidence that his guidance would help expand the Academy’s activities and strengthen its mission of preserving and promoting Odia heritage.

Responding to the honour, Dr. Mishra urged Odias to dedicate themselves to enriching the mother tongue and collective aspirations. He emphasized that establishing Odia as a repository of knowledge is a national duty and pledged his active support to the Academy’s initiatives.

The programme was attended by noted scholar Dr. Bibhuti Bhusan Mahapatra, OVA Senior Manager Smruti Ranjan Mishra, technical consultants Debananda Bhanj, Dr. D.N. Mahanty, Sachidananda Panda, and Special Officer Srinibas Mishra, among others. The gathering reflected a collective commitment to advancing Odia language and culture through collaborative efforts.