A two-day national seminar on ‘Tribal Society and Culture of Odisha as reflected in literature’, organised jointly by KISS and Kendra Sahitya Academy, was inaugurated at KISS Deemed to be University on Friday.
Inaugurating the seminar, Kendra Sahitya Academy secretary K Sreenivasa Rao said Odia literature originated from Odra tribal.
There are many social and cultural similarities between different tribes, he stated, adding that in Odia literature, there are many reflections of tribal society and culture.
Eminent fiction writer and Jnanpith Awardee Dr Pratibha Ray said, “Man is a part of the nature. Therefore, people are so natural. We belong to one tribe that is human tribe. We have to go through Indian literature which is inspired by Vedic root. In ancient Indian literature, there was reflection of tribal culture and character. Without tribal culture, the Mahabharat and the Ramayan would not have been completed.” However, today the tribal culture and traditions are gradually disappearing from its origin. We have to restore and preserve these tribal cultures and traditions, she added.
KISS Deemed to be University VC Professor Harekrushna Satapathy gave the keynote address. Sahitya Academy Odia Advisory Board convener Bijayananda Singh presided.