Odisha’s young sporting talents Sanjali Oram and Jamuna Tudu have made the state proud by securing medals at prestigious national-level competitions. Promising archer Sanjali Oram showcased her exceptional skills at the U-13 National Archery Championship held in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. Competing in the Indian Round, Sanjali secured a bronze medal, finishing third in the category on Saturday. Her achievement highlights the growing prominence of Odisha’s young archers on the national stage.

Adding to Odisha’s glory, Jamuna Tudu displayed remarkable athletic prowess in the U-20 Women’s Long Jump event at the 4th Indian Open Jumps Competition in Bengaluru. Her impressive performance earned her a bronze medal, marking a significant milestone in her athletic career.

These victories underscore Odisha’s growing influence in Indian sports, with young talents like Sanjali and Jamuna making a mark in archery and athletics. Their achievements are a testament to their hard work, dedication, and the rising sporting culture in the state.

ପ୍ରତି ଓଡ଼ିଆଙ୍କ ପ୍ରିୟ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ପଖାଳ ଯାହା ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ୟରେ ଆଜି ପାଳନ ହେଉଛି ପଖାଳ ଦିବସ। ୨୦୧୫ରୁ ମାର୍ଚ୍ଚ ୨୦ ତାରିଖକୁ ବିଶ୍ୱ ପଖାଳ ଦିବସ ଭାବେ ପାଳନ କରାଯାଇଆସୁଛି। ଗାଁଠୁ ସହର, ରାସ୍ତାକଡ ହୋଟେଲ ଠୁ ପଞ୍ଚତାରକା ହୋଟେଲ ସବୁଠି ଆଜି ପଖାଳର ଚାହିଦା। ନେତା ହୁଅନ୍ତୁ ଅବା ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ, ସାନ-ବଡ଼, ଧନୀ ଗରିବ, ସବୁ ଭେଦଭାବକୁ ଭେଦ କରି ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ଏକ କରିଦେଇଛି ପଖାଳ କଂସା। ଓଡ଼ିଶା ସମେତ ପଶ୍ଚିମବଙ୍ଗ, ବିହାର ଓ ଆସାମ ଆଦି ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ପଖାଳ ବେଶ୍ ଲୋକପ୍ରିୟ। କେବଳ ହୋଟେଲ କି ରେଷ୍ଟୁରାଣ୍ଟ ନୁହେଁ, ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ପ୍ରାୟ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ଘରେ ଆଜି ପଖାଳ ସ୍ପେଶାଲ ଦେଖିବାକୁ ମିଳୁଛି। ପଖାଳ ସହ ସାଇଟ ଆଇଟମ ମଧ୍ୟ ବେଶ ପପୁଲାର। ବଡିଚୁରା , ଆଳୁଭଜା, ବାଇଗଣ ଭର୍ତ୍ତା, ମାଛ ଭଜା, ଚିକେନ୍ କଷା, ଆଲୁ ଚିପ୍ସ, କଲରା ଚିପ୍ସ ଭଳି ଆଇଟମ ପଖାଳର ସ୍ବାଦକୁ ଆହୁରି ଦ୍ବିଗୁଣିତ କରିଦେଇଥାଏ। ତେବେ କେବଳ ସାଧାରଣ ଲୋକେ ନୁହେଁ, ସେଲିବ୍ରିଟିଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ପଖାଳର କ୍ରେଜ ଦେଖିବାକୁ ମିଳିଥାଏ। ଦିନ ଥିଲା ଗାଁର ଝୁମ୍ପୁଡି ଘର ଏହାର ପରିଚୟ ଥିଲା ଓ କୃଷକର ଏହା ପ୍ରମୁଖ ଆହାର ଥିଲା। କିନ୍ତୁ ସମୟ ବଦଳିବା ସହିତ ପଖାଳ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ଆପଣାର ହୋଇପାରିଛି। ପଖାଳକୁ ସାରା ଦେଶ ଓ ବିଶ୍ବରେ ପରିଚିତ କରାଇବା ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରୟାସ ଜାରି ରହିଛି । ମୁମ୍ବାଇ ଠୁ ଚେନ୍ନାଇ, ଆମେରିକାରୁ ଅଷ୍ଟ୍ରେଲିଆ ଯେଉଁଠି ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସେଇଠି ରହିଛି ପଖାଳ କଂସା। ୨୦୧୧ ମସିହାରୁ କିଛି ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଓ ଅଣଓଡ଼ିଆ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ପ୍ରେମୀଙ୍କ ଉତ୍ସାହରୁ ଏହି ଦିବସ ପାଳନର ପରିକଳ୍ପନା ହୋଇଥିଲା । ତେବେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ପାରମ୍ପରିକ ଏହି ଖାଦ୍ୟକୁ ଲୋକପ୍ରିୟ କରିବାକୁ ପ୍ରତିବର୍ଷ ଆଜିର ଦିନରେ ପ୍ରତିଟି ଓଡ଼ିଆ ପାଳନ କରୁଛନ୍ତି ‘ବିଶ୍ୱ ପଖାଳ ଦିବସ’।

Former Union Minister Debendra Pradhan passed away today at the age of 84 after a prolonged illness. The father of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan breathed his last in the early morning hours at his son’s residence in New Delhi, as confirmed by family sources. He had been suffering from age-related ailments and was undergoing treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. His demise marks the loss of a towering figure in Odisha’s political landscape and a key contributor to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s growth in the state and at the national level.

Born on July 16, 1941, in Talcher, Odisha, Debendra Pradhan was the son of Maheswar Pradhan and Chandrama Debi. He pursued his medical education at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, completing his MBBS in 1966. He began his career as an Assistant Medical Officer at Dera in Talcher in 1967. However, his calling lay beyond medicine, and in 1973, he opted for Voluntary Retirement (VRS) to begin his private medical practice before eventually stepping into politics.

Debendra Pradhan joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980, marking the start of an influential political career. He played a crucial role in expanding the BJP’s presence in Odisha and held several key leadership positions, including serving as the party president of undivided Dhenkanal district from 1983 to 1985 and again from 1985 to 1988. In 1988, he became the BJP President of Odisha and was re-elected in 1990, holding the post again from 1995 to 1997.

His electoral journey saw him getting elected as a Member of Parliament from Deogarh Constituency in Odisha in 1998, representing the 12th Lok Sabha. His strong political acumen and leadership abilities earned him a ministerial berth in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government. After securing re-election in 1999, he was appointed as Minister of State for Surface Transport and Agriculture, serving in these capacities from 1999 to 2001. In recognition of his contributions, he was later appointed as the National Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2001.

His tenure as a minister saw significant contributions to India’s transportation and agricultural policies, helping drive infrastructural development and key reforms. His work in governance, policy-making, and public service left a lasting impact, shaping Odisha’s political landscape and the BJP’s foothold in the state.

Debendra Pradhan’s passing marks the end of an era in Odisha and national politics. His leadership, dedication, and relentless efforts in strengthening the BJP’s influence in Odisha laid the foundation for the party’s growth in the region. He was not only a seasoned politician but also a committed public servant who dedicated his life to the welfare of the people. His contributions to governance, healthcare, and policy reforms will always be remembered.