Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Four eminent personalities from Odisha — Sakhi Nata folk theatre exponent Simanchal Patro, renowned educationist and folklorist Mahendra Kumar Mishra, Santhali writer Charan Hembram, and master tie-and-dye artisan Sarat Kumar Patra — will be honoured with the Padma Shri 2026. The fourth-highest civilian award recognises their exceptional contributions to the fields of art, literature and education.
The President has approved a total of 131 Padma Shri awards, along with five Padma Vibhushan and 13 Padma Bhushan honours. The list includes 19 women awardees, six recipients from the Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI categories, and 16 posthumous honours.
Awardees from Odisha
Simanchal Patro is a distinguished practitioner of the Sakhi Nata folk theatre tradition, having trained in the art form since childhood. He is especially known for his mastery of Prahlad Natak, a rigorous style requiring command over more than 300 songs composed across 35 ragas. Demonstrating rare dedication, Patro even sold a substantial part of his personal property to support and preserve the tradition.
Mahendra Kumar Mishra, a noted linguist and folklorist, has devoted his life to documenting and preserving the rich oral heritage of Odisha’s tribal communities. His extensive work includes the recording of myths, epics, proverbs and songs, and the authorship of over 25 books on Odia and tribal folklore. His contributions were instrumental in introducing multilingual education in several tribal languages in the state. In recognition of his lifelong efforts to promote mother languages, Mishra received UNESCO’s International Mother Language Award in 2023.
According to a video story shared by IANS, Charan Hembram has been described as a sentinel of the Santhali language. For over three decades, he has worked relentlessly to secure wider recognition and legitimacy for the language and its cultural traditions. He has established several institutions to expand access to tribal and cultural education and has also promoted indigenous dance forms among women to ensure the continuity of these art forms.
Sarat Kumar Patra, born into a traditional handloom weaver family in the Maniabandha Nuapatna Handloom Cluster of Athgarh in Cuttack district, is celebrated for his mastery of natural tie-and-dye weaving. He produces an array of refined handloom products, including sarees, dress materials, dhotis and scarves in cotton, silk and bapta yarn. His fabrics are also offered to Lord Jagannath in Puri during festive occasions. Patra was earlier honoured with the National Award for natural tie-and-dye products in 1993 and the Sant Kabir Award in 2015.
