Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Leader of the Opposition (LOP) in the State Assembly and former chief minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, has asked Union Science & Technology Minister Jitendra Singh to personally intervene on behalf of the UNESCO Kalinga Prize’s continuation and to honour the Odia “identity and pride” that is linked with it. An international honour bestowed upon individuals for their contributions to the popularization of science is the UNESCO Kalinga Prize.
In a letter to the Union Minister, Patnaik requested his help in keeping the award supported by the Central government. Notably, the Central government notified the Kalinga Foundation Trust by email that several awards established by science ministries, departments, and their independent institutes are being rationalized. Thus, continuing funding the coveted reward in its current configuration will not be feasible.
“The UNESCO Kalinga Prize is one of the prestigious international awards in the field of Science. It was instituted by legendary Biju Patnaik and since its inception in 1952, has so far been awarded to 72 Great scientists including 7 Nobel laureates such as Louis de Broglie, Julian Huxley, Bertrand Russel, Karl von Frisch, Arthur C. Clarke, Fred Hoyle and Sergei Kapitza amongst others,” wrote Patnaik in his letter to the Union Minister.
According to Patnaik, the award was made possible by the kind donation of a thousand pounds to UNESCO in Paris by the Kalinga Foundation Trust, of which Biju Babu was the founding president, in 1951. The sole worldwide honour given by India in the area of science popularisation is the UNESCO Kalinga Prize. He continued, “Over the years, it has grown to be a highly sought-after prize and an international symbol of Odia’s identity.”
According to Patnaik, the Department of Science and Technology, the Government of India, the government of Odisha, and the Kalinga Foundation Trust were chosen to serve as the prize’s partners and donors in 2002, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the country’s prime minister. They agreed to split the UNESCO Kalinga Prize’s costs in a 6:4:4 ratio.
“However, I am now pained to learn that the Ministry of Science & Technology has decided to stop supporting this Prize. The ‘Kalinga Prize’ is not just a symbol of ‘Odia pride’ but it had set a legacy for independent India in the comity of nations globally. Imagine the kind of efforts Biju Babu would have put as a 36-year-old young man travelling all the way to Paris and negotiating with UNESCO to set up an International Prize for the popularisation of Science,” Patnaik said.
According to Patnaik, several generations of Odias have been inspired and their spirits have been raised by the bravery and foresight of Biju Babu, who called the prize the Kalinga Prize. Therefore, the “Kalinga Prize” is more than just a global honour; it is a wonderful tradition that the people of Odisha cherish and relate to. In this regard, I would like to call your kind attention to this matter and ask that you step in to ensure that the UNESCO Kalinga Prize is continued while also honouring the Odia “identity and pride” that is linked with it, Patnaik pleaded.
