The Paradip Port Land Losers, Affected Farmers’ Association (PPLAFA) led by BJD State secretary and prominent trade union leader Santosh Kumar Patnaik celebrated the 119th birth anniversary of ‘Kujang Gandhi’ Narayan Birabar Samanta on Monday.
After offering prayers at the nearest temple, association members visited the residence of Samanta and garlanded his and his wife former Erasama MLA Rantamali Jema’s statues. They then went to Udayabata Dham and paid floral tributes at the statue of Samanta.
A memorial meeting was held at Zero Point office premises of PPLAFA at Paradip being presided over by its president advocate Chinmay Das.
Senior farmer leader Baishnab Charan Patnaik was chief guest. Eastern Indian Oil Refinery Workers’ Union general secretary Ranjan Kumar Palai, vice-president Dilip Kumar Behera, Oil Refinery Contract Labour Cooperative Society president Abhiram Samal, Trailoknath Samantaray, Sukadev Das and journalist Prasanta Kumar Rout were guests of honour. They recalled the life history, achievements and simple living and high thinking personality of Samanta. A vote of thanks was given by PPLAFA secretary Mihirkanta Sahoo.