CM Majhi Congratulates Odisha's Padma Shri Awardees
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi congratulated three Padma Shri recipients from the state — Charan Hembram (Mayurbhanj), Guru Seemanchal Patra (Ganjam), and Sharat Kumar Patra (Cuttack Tigiria) — honoured at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 23 June 2026, and thanked PM Modi and President Murmu for the 'People's Padma' initiative.
Key Takeaways
Three individuals from Odisha received the Padma Shri at a special ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 23 June 2026 .
Shri Charan Hembram of Mayurbhanj was honoured in the field of literature and education.
Guru Seemanchal Patra of Ganjam was recognised for his contributions to art.
Shri Sharat Kumar Patra of Cuttack Tigiria was honoured for traditional bandha shilpa (tie-and-dye weaving).
CM Majhi credited the 'People's Padma' philosophy of PM Narendra Modi and President Draupadi Murmu for bringing grassroots contributors into national focus.
The Chief Minister invoked Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath in wishing the awardees long and healthy lives.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday, 23 June 2026 extended his congratulations to all recipients from Odisha who received the Padma Shri at a special investiture ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. The Chief Minister specifically named three awardees — Shri Charan Hembram of Mayurbhanj (literature and education), Guru Seemanchal Patra of Ganjam (art), and Shri Sharat Kumar Patra of Cuttack Tigiria (traditional weaving) — calling their recognition a matter of immense pride for the entire state.
Context
Posting in Odia, Chief Minister Majhi wrote: 'Aaji Nua Dilli sthita Rashtrapati Bhavanthare aayojita swatantra samaroha re...' ('Today at a special ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, I extend heartfelt greetings and congratulations to all the personalities from Odisha who received the Padma Shri from the honourable President.'). He described the dedication of the three awardees as having given Odisha's art, language, and culture a distinct identity on the world stage and as having further glorified Odishara asmita — the pride and identity of Odisha.
The Chief Minister also expressed gratitude on behalf of the people of Odisha to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Draupadi Murmu for honouring grassroots contributors through what he termed the 'People's Padma' approach. He concluded by invoking Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath, praying for the good health and long life of all the awardees.
Policy Backdrop
The Padma Awards, instituted in 1954, are India's highest civilian honours conferred annually by the President for distinguished service across fields including art, literature, education, and social work. Since 2014, the Union government has made a conscious effort to expand the pool of recipients to include unsung and grassroots contributors from rural and tribal communities — a shift the government has branded the 'People's Padma'.
President Draupadi Murmu, herself from Odisha and the first tribal woman to hold the nation's highest constitutional office, has been a symbol of this inclusive recognition. Mayurbhanj, the district from which awardee Shri Charan Hembram hails, has a significant tribal population and a rich tradition in performing arts, literature, and crafts — making his recognition particularly resonant.
Stakeholders and Impact
The recognition of three Odisha-based individuals across distinct fields — literature and education, classical or folk art, and traditional weaving — reflects the breadth of the state's cultural heritage. Shri Sharat Kumar Patra of Cuttack Tigiria, honoured for bandha shilpa (traditional tie-and-dye weaving), represents a craft tradition that supports numerous artisan families across the region.
For the state government, the awards offer an opportunity to amplify the profiles of these practitioners and potentially channel support toward their art forms. The Odia artistic and literary community has broadly welcomed the recognition, viewing it as national validation of regional cultural contributions.
What's Next
State government follow-up events to felicitate the awardees at the local level are anticipated in the coming weeks. The recognition is also likely to renew attention to Odisha's pipeline of Padma nominations for the next awards cycle, as the state government and cultural bodies identify further grassroots contributors deserving national honour. Chief Minister Majhi's public acknowledgement signals that the state administration intends to position these awards as part of a broader cultural diplomacy effort for Odisha.
Point of View
He ties grassroots recognition to state pride and, by extension, to the ruling dispensation's narrative of inclusive governance. His explicit endorsement of the 'People's Padma' framing aligns Bhubaneswar closely with New Delhi's cultural outreach agenda, a signal of political alignment between the state BJP government and the Centre. The invocation of President Draupadi Murmu — an Odia tribal woman — adds a layer of identity politics that resonates deeply in a state where tribal and regional pride are potent electoral forces. Taken together, the post positions the Odisha government as an active partner in, rather than a passive beneficiary of, the Union government's civilian honours ecosystem.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Padma Shri awardees from Odisha in 2026?
Three individuals from Odisha received the Padma Shri at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 23 June 2026: Shri Charan Hembram of Mayurbhanj (literature and education), Guru Seemanchal Patra of Ganjam (art), and Shri Sharat Kumar Patra of Cuttack Tigiria (traditional weaving).
What is the 'People's Padma' initiative?
The 'People's Padma' is a phrase used to describe the Union government's approach, promoted since 2014 under PM Narendra Modi, of expanding Padma Awards to recognise unsung, grassroots contributors from rural and tribal communities rather than limiting honours to established public figures.
What did Odisha CM Mohan Majhi say about the Padma Shri ceremony?
CM Majhi extended heartfelt congratulations to all Padma Shri recipients from Odisha, described their dedication as a matter of immense pride for the state, and thanked PM Modi and President Murmu for honouring grassroots contributors at the national level.
Where was the Padma Shri investiture ceremony held in June 2026?
The special investiture ceremony was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, where President Draupadi Murmu conferred the Padma Shri awards.
What is Sharat Kumar Patra known for?
Shri Sharat Kumar Patra of Cuttack Tigiria is recognised as a distinguished practitioner of bandha shilpa, the traditional Odia tie-and-dye weaving craft, for which he received the Padma Shri in 2026.
