Celebrating Global, South Asian, and Youth Voices Shaping Literature and Culture
Bhubaneswar : The Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) 2026, scheduled to be held from 8 to 11 January 2026 in Bhubaneswar, has announced the recipients of its most prestigious literary honours. These awards recognise outstanding contributions to literature, translation, cultural dialogue, and the nurturing of young voices across India, South Asia, and the world.
The KLF Awards have, over the years, emerged as a mark of literary excellence, celebrating writers and thinkers whose work transcends borders, languages, and generations. The 2026 awardees reflect KLF’s core commitment to multilingualism, cultural continuity, and the power of stories to shape humanity.
Kalinga Literary Award
Shri Achyutanand Pati (India)
The Kalinga Literary Award will be presented to Shri Achyutanand Pati, one of the most respected voices in Odia literature, for his outstanding contribution to the art of short storytelling. A compassionate and humanist writer, his works illuminate the lives of the marginalised and the unheard, blending poetic language with rural idiom and lived experience. His stories have enriched the Odia literary tradition and inspired generations of readers and writers.
Kalinga Literary Award (International)
Daisy Rockwell
The Kalinga Literary Award (International) will be awarded to Daisy Rockwell for her exceptional contribution to world literature through translation, art, and cross-cultural interpretation. Her transformative translations have carried South Asian literary voices across languages and borders, deepening global understanding of identity, history, and humanity. Her work has expanded the possibilities of translation as a powerful act of cultural dialogue.
Kalinga Literary Award (Youth)
Ranjana Niraula (Nepal)
The Kalinga Literary Award (Youth) will be conferred upon Ranjana Niraula, writer and poet in Nepali, in recognition of her inspiring contribution to nurturing young literary voices across Nepal and South Asia. Through her commitment to literary dialogue and cultural exchange, she has encouraged a new generation to engage deeply with the shared literary traditions of India, Nepal, and the wider South Asian region, reflecting the promise of youth-led cultural leadership grounded in creativity and continuity.
A Celebration of Literary Diversity
The awards will be formally conferred during Kalinga Literary Festival 2026 at Bhubaneswar in the presence of eminent writers, thinkers, policymakers, and cultural leaders from India and abroad. Together, the awardees represent the global reach of literature, the depth of South Asian cultural exchange, and the enduring power of regional languages.
KLF 2026, themed “Stories That Shape Humanity: Translating Worlds, Transforming Futures,” continues to reaffirm literature as a vital force for dialogue, empathy, and shared futures.
International Living Legend Award 2026
Dr. Binod Chaudhury (Nepal)
The International Living Legend Award 2026 will be conferred upon Dr. Binod Chaudhury in recognition of his extraordinary lifetime contribution to strengthening India–Nepal relations and enriching the shared civilisational, cultural, and intellectual heritage of South Asia. Through visionary leadership in business, deep commitment to philanthropy, and sustained engagement with literature and ideas, Dr. Chaudhury exemplifies how enterprise can serve civilisation and dialogue can inspire generations.
About Kalinga Literary Festival
Organised by Odisha Diary Foundation, the Kalinga Literary Festival is one of India’s leading literary and cultural platforms. Since 2012, KLF has hosted over 5,000 writers, thinkers, artists, and public intellectuals, positioning Odisha and India prominently on the global cultural map. Beyond Bhubaneswar, KLF has also organised international editions in Kathmandu and plans further expansions across South and Southeast Asia.
