A day-long workshop on “Contributions of Ganjam District to Odia Language and Literature” was held here on Sunday. It was jointly organised by the Pujya Puja Sahitya Sansad of Bhubaneswar and the ISRD, Brahmapur and sponsored by the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore.
Seven research papers were presented in two technical sessions. Elected representatives, literary figures, academicians, poets, administrators, former bureaucrats, intellectuals and scribes attended the workshop.
KISS University’s Prof Basanta Kumar Panda while presiding over the meeting called for wide publicity of works of Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja and Kabisurya Baladeva Ratha on line of Fakirmohan.
Former Assembly Deputy Speaker Rama Chandra Panda recalled the most valuable contributions of Parala Maharaja to the unification of Odisha and its subsequent progress. He further said that for effective growth of Odia language and literature, a conducive environment is needed.
Secretary of Pujya Puja Sahitya Sansad Maheswar Barad introduced the guests. Dr Bidyut Prabha Sahu welcomed the guests and Dr Hrusikesh Panda explained the objectives of the workshop.
Among others, Gopalpur MLA Dr Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi as chief guest, former Deputy Speaker of Assembly and advisor of Odisha Agri Marketing Board Rama Chandra Panda, Kabisuryanagar MLA Latika Pradhan, Chatrapur MLA Subash Chandra Behera, former MLA Dr Ramesh Chandra Chyau Pattnaik, Brahmapur MLA Bikram Panda, Chairperson of Ganjam Zilla Parishad Sonam Pallai, Chairperson of ISRD Hayagriba Tripathy and Director of ISRD Sudhira Sabat, also spoke.