First citizen Droupadi meets state’s achievers

Bhubaneswar: President Droupadi Murmu met prominent achievers from different fields like literature, dance, medicine, sports and art at the Raj Bhavan, here on Thursday.
Those who got special invitation from the Rashtrapati Bhawan for the meeting were poet Haladhara Nag, writer Pratibha Ray, Odissi danseuse Aruna Mohanty, sculptor Sudarshan Sahu, sand sculptor Sudarshan Patnaik, award-winning weaver Chaturbhuj Meher, hockey star Dilip Tirkey, Dr Ashok Mohapatra vice-chancellor of Siksha O Anusandhan university, Khawar Naqvi of Urdu Academy, award-winning teacher Iswar Chandra Nayak Biswanath Mishra of CTTC and award-winning nurse Premalata Barik.
Eminent writer Pratibha Ray said it has always been a pleasure to meet President Droupadi Murmu. “After she became the president, I went to meet her in New Delhi. We both are very fond of each other and I love her simplicity. She is always grounded and down to earth,” said Ray, who presented two of her latest novels, “Uttara Bharat” and “Sesha Ishwar” to Murmu. Noted Odissi danseuse Aruna Mohanty said this is a proud moment for her as she studied in the same school and college where president Droupadi Murmu had studied. “I am really proud that I am an alumni of the same institute that produced a legendary woman leader,” Mohanty said.
Sand sculptor Sudarshan Patnaik made a huge sand art of Lord Jagannath on Niladri beach, Puri, and presented a photo of one of his sand arts to her. Other invitees also presented many gifts to the President. President award winning teacher Ishwar Chandra Nayak, who was also invited to meet the president, said it has been a privilege to get invited to the Raj Bhavan. “I presented a pattachitra to the president. It has been a great honour to meet the president amidst so many luminaries of the state and I would cherish the moments throughout mylife,” said Nayak.