By Our Correspondent
DUBAI/BHUBANESWAR: A unique & novel message on the occasion of Utkal Divas by 3 Dubai based women achievers, hailing from Odisha, was sent out on Saturday.
Airline pilot Captain Madhusmita Patnaik, accomplished artist Mona Biswarupa Mohanty and record-breaking young Scuba diver Tisya Panigrahi (12 years old) assembled today morning at the foot of Burj Khalifa, Dubai, the tallest building in the world and gave out their congratulatory message on the occasion of Utkal Divas, Odisha’s foundation day. They wished all the Odias back home as well as the Odia diaspora, scattered across the globe by holding ‘Bande Utkala Janani’ placards. These placards were specially hand painted for this occasion. To make the occasion memorable, they were also dressed in outfits that brought them fame: Captain Patnaik wore her Captain’s uniform, Mona donned the artist’s apron while Tisya was wearing her scuba diving equipment.
Captain Madhusmita Patnaik is among the few woman pilots hailing from Odisha. A highly experienced pilot, she currently flies Airbus A320 aircrafts as a Commander for Sharjah based Air Arabia Airlines. She shot into prominence when she ferried stranded Odias from Sharjah to Bhubaneswar in a special flight during the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020. Captain Patnaik hails from Berhampur in Odisha.
Mona Biswarupa Mohanty hails from Mayurbhanj in Odisha and is a celebrated and accomplished artist. She has held many painting exhibitions in India and the UAE. She is quite popular on social media and has a huge fan following. Mona is also one of the first recipients of UAE’s coveted ‘Golden Visa’ under the artistes’ category.
Sambalpur born; 12-year-old girl Tisya Panigrahi became Odisha’s youngest scuba diver in 2021 at the age of 10. Since then, she has had many accomplishments like diving 70 feet on her 12th birthday to become Odisha’s youngest junior advanced Scuba diver. She was also in the news recently for celebrating her milestone dives among sharks, along with her scuba diver father. Many of her scuba diving videos are popular on various social media platforms and have gone viral.
Captain Patnaik wished everyone on Utkal Divas. She said ‘Wherever Prabasi Odias stay, Odisha’s history and culture is what identifies us. We can never forget our roots and always try to remain connected to our motherland. We three gathered here today to make this occasion special and memorable’.
Mona Biswarupa Mohanty said ‘Despite staying thousands of kilometers away from our motherland, Odisha continues to be my main source of inspiration when I practice my art. I wish all the Odias across the globe on this auspicious occasion of Utkal Divas. Commemorating this at the foot of Burj Khalifa, felt special’.
The youngest of the three, Tisya Panigrahi said ‘I am a proud Odia and l love going back to my place of birth, Sambalpur and to Bhubaneswar to meet my relatives. With our effort, I hope to make many more people across the globe aware of my state and her rich culture, natural beauty, handicrafts, and handlooms. I am also excited to learn about the direct flight from Dubai to Bhubaneswar and want to thank the Odisha Govt. for making this possible.’
This special commemoration by these 3 women achievers is being seen as quite unique and novel.
