Govt urged to hold poet Bhakta’s Jayanti

A function for distribution ofthe Bhakta Charan Prativa Samman was held here recently at Godabarisa Sahitya Sansad. Joining as chief guest on the occasion, Prof Kubera Biswal of Utkal University described the great writings of the Bhakta Charan.

He narrated Bhakta’s life at a small village in Nayagarh district and lamented that a great poet like him is now less remembered in the State.

He said that his creations like “Mathura Mangala”, “Manabodha Choutisa” are great pieces in Odia literature but the Government of Odisha and the people have forgotten them. He observed that the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture of the State Government and the Odia Sahitya Akademi should observe the Bhakta Charan Jayanti every year in collaboration with like-minded organisations. Joining as chief speaker, Subhashree Panda said that if Odias do not learn to pay respect to their mother language, then the language will gradually lose its significance. She urged the Government to preserve and popularise writings of great poets like Bhakta.

Joining as a guest of honour, journalist Sugyan Choudhury opined that Bhakta deserves a place in Odia literature next to Bhakta Kabi Jagannath Das.

Eminent personalities were felicitated on the occasion. Among others, Stalin Parida and Satya Nayak were present.