Source: The Hindu 

Bhubaneswar-based popular literary publishing house ‘Time Pass’ founded by young and dynamic writer-publisher Saroj Bal has announced its annual literary awards for Oriya language and literature for the year 2009.

Short-story writer Satyapriya Mahalik will be the recipient of the ‘Time Pass Booker Prize’ for his unpublished work ‘Sarinathiba eka Lokakatha’ (an unfinished folk-tale) – an anthology of short stories in Oriya.

The award carries a cash prize of Rs.20, 000 and the book would be released during the annual literary festival of the publishing house at Jayadev Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on March 14, informed Saroj, Time Pass founder-director.

“The award is reserved for writers below 45 years old as our thrust has been on promoting young writers. We not only recognize such writers with the award but also take the responsibility of publishing and marketing their works,” he explained. Writers and editors of three of the Time Pass publications will be awarded as Time Pass bestsellers for 2008 – Pabitra Panigrahi’s short-story collection Chhuienle Prema, poetry collection Khalei by Surendra Panigrahi and short story collection Deha edited by Subhransu Panda, Saroj added. Bahi Bandhu (friend of the books) award would go to Sudhansu Pradhan of Biswamukti press of Bhubaneswar, Saroj said and explained that the award is presented to people who are not writers but help promotion of books.

Eminent Hindi writer Udayan Vajpayee would address the Time Pass literary festival and present the awards this year, it was learnt.