Kataka:Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Dipak Misra was conferred with the Kalinga Ratna Award by Sarala Sahitya Sansad here on Tuesday. The award comprises a silver idol of Goddess Saraswati and a citation.

Speaking on the occasion, Justice Mishra said a person may travel far in life, but the soil of birth continues to shape memory, identity and cultural inheritance. Turning to the Constitution, Justice Misra described “fraternity” in the Preamble as a living moral bond that rises above caste, creed, language and social status. The dignity of an individual, he emphasised, could never be protected by diminishing another’s dignity. “By respecting another person’s humanity, we affirm our own,” he said. Invoking anti-war poets, Justice Misra observed that wars might produce victories, but seldom peace, leaving behind grief, hatred and wounded generations. The Sansad also, on the occasion, bestowed the Sarala Samman on eminent litterateur Dr Ramachandra Behera for his notable contributions to Odia literature for over six decades. Presided over by Sansad’s founder and president, Pravakar Swain, the award-giving ceremony was attended by Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan as chief guest.