Wisdom poetry has the power to enlighten our path, opined BJP national vice-president Shyam Jaju on the occasion of the second day of the 39th World Congress of Poets (WPC), being held at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) Deemed to be University here, on Thursday.
“Poetry can make us connect to movement that would otherwise quietly slip by us. Wisdom poetry is a counsellor helping us to understand one another better. It can lead us away from hate to love, from violence to mercy and pity; it has the power to enlighten our path,” said Jaju. He was speaking on the theme, ‘Wisdom Poetry’.
“Wisdom poetry reveals an understanding that deep meaning can be felt in the details. Mahakavi Kalidas, Rabindranath Tagore, Sarojini Naidu, Shri Aurobinda and Atal Bihari Vajpayee are the greatest wisdom poets of India,” said Jaju.
The symphony of human feelings like love, hate, betrayal, sensitivity and duty can be seen as huge reflection in the work of great poet, Kalidas, he added.
Opining that compassion is the basis of all morality, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi said poetry is the great medium of compassion.
Prof Ernesto Kahan, first vice-president, World Academy of Arts & Culture (WAAC), USA said, “Our generation is privileged. Until this generation, we did not have resources to provide basic care to everyone. But in this generation, we have the resources to provide education and primary healthcare to every single person of the world. Simultaneously, there is possibility and probability of destroying everything.
There is probability to destroy all humankind, to contaminate everything. We have to be more cautious to protect humankind and our environment.
Poetry is beauty and poetry is love. Maybe this world can be different with the combination of beauty and freedom, beauty and education, and beauty and love.”
KIIT Vice-Chancellor Prof Hrushikesha Mohanty said Odisha is known for wisdom poetry. Odia Bhagabat written by Atibadi Jagannath Dash is well-known wisdom poetry. Poetry is all about love and compassion, he said.
WCP president and KIIT and KISS founder Prof Achyuta Samanta delivered the welcome address.
On the occasion, eminent poet Prabasini Mahakud, Mayfair Hotels and Resorts ED Souvagya Kumar Mohapatra, Poetry Across Cultures president Dr Rita Malhotra, Olympian and Ace sprinter Dutee Chand were conferred with the Honorary Diploma by the WCP.
Books of 67 authors of various languages were released on the occasion.