BJD chief’s sister declines Padma Award

Renowned English writer Gita Mehta, who is the sister of Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janatha Dal strongman Naveen Patnaik, has declined Padma Award, indirectly citing that the timing of the award gives wrong message to the public. She has however thanked the Indian government for recognising her contribution to the field of literature with the Padma Shri award.

Karma Cola, Raj, A River Sutra, Eternal Ganesha: From Birth to Rebirth, and Snakes and Ladders: Glimpse of Modern India are the main contributions of the writer to the world of English literature.

Most of these books have secured critical appreciation, mainly from the Indians who follow the segment of English literature.

She is also known as a documentary maker. She has so far created as many as fourteen television documentaries.

The member of the Patnaik family earlier attracted the attention of media houses when a BJD leader hinted about the entry of the writer into the hemisphere of Odisha politics. Then, she, as well as her brother, dismissed that report as the ploy developed by the BJP to malign the image of the BJD leadership.

In the coming days, the nation is likely to discuss what were in the mind of the government when it prepared the final list of Padma award winners.

Already, the government’s decision to award the prestigious award of Bharat Ratna to a former Congress strongman has found places in the discussion tables of the nation.

Vignesh. S. G

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