Tie Rakhi, gift a helmet: Sand artist’s message
Puri: Eminent sand artist from Odisha, Sudarsan Pattnaik, sent out a unique message on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan on Monday. Through his art on the Puri sea beach, he appealed to girls to gift helmets to their brothers besides tying Rakhi to ensure their safety.
Ravenshaw poll row: Fin Min’s intervention sought
Cuttack: A team of the Ravenshaw Bikash Abhijan on Monday met former student leader of the Ravenshaw College and Finance Minister Shashi Bhushan Behera and sought his intervention for ensuring direct Students’ Union elections in the now Ravenshaw University. Abhijan members have decided to approach the executive members and former students of the university against the authorities’ decision for holding indirect election. Abhijan president Chittaranjan Mohanty, general secretary Siddharth Rath, Kshirod Mohapatra, Babi Balabantray and Khageswar Sethi met the Minister, who assured to take steps in favour of their demand.
Gangadhar Meher birthday celebrated in city
Bhubaneswar: The 156th birthday of Swabhab Kabi Gangadhar Meher was celebrated jointly by the Gangadhar Meher Pratisthan, Utkal Sammilani, Paschima Odisha Agrani Sangathan, Bhulia Samaj, Punya Utkal and International Theatre here on Monday. Culture Minister Ashok Kumar Panda, MP Prasanna Patsani, MlA Priyadarshi Mishra and Mayor Anant Narayan Jena garlanded Meher’s statue at the Kalinga Hospital Square. Among others, birthday committee secretary Dillip Dashsharma, advisors Sanjib Hota, Narendra Mishra and Sudipta Dash, Pratisthan president Mihir Meher and Sammilani’s Sheetal Chandra Mohanty, Pratap Nanda, Kshetra Mohan Nayak, Nirakar Mahalik, Ashok Palatasingh and committee members like Prashant Mohaptra, Manikar Meher, Geeta Meher and Muralidhar Parida were present.
‘Jagannath Desh’ campaigner passes away
Bhubaneswar: Er Nakula Chandra Mallick, who had been leading a campaign to convert the name of the State from Odisha to ‘Jagannath Desh since 1990, passed away in the Shantipalli Jagannath Temple premises here on Sunday. He was 91. He had also founded the Odisha Kshetriya Khandayat Mahasabha. He had made a record by going in a cycle to Ayodhya to join ‘Kar Seva’ for establishment of a Ram Temple there. Former Union Minister Kanhu Charan lenka, freedom fighter Dolagobinda Pradhan, Trinamool Congress State president Aryakumar Jnanendra, Vishwa Hindu Parishad State president Dr Badrinath Patnaik, Dr Bimalendu Mohanty and former Ministers Sitakanta Mohapatra and Ganeswar Behera mourned his death.
Ex-administrator Upendra Mahapatra passes away
Cuttack: Former State Government administrator and social worker Upendra Mahapatra passed away at his residence here on Sunday. He was 97. He used to give importance to women’s education and treat his sons and daughters equally. His sons, grandsons and granddaughters are well-placed in the fields of culture and education. Dr Padmalaya Garabadu, Krushnapriya, Abani Kumar Mahapatra, Ashwini Kumar Mahapatra, Suchitra Mahapatra, Sangita Gosain and Sumitra Mahapatra are his contributions from his family to the field of culture.