The 158th birthday of Swabhabakabi Gangadhar Meher and the 128th birthday of poet Bhagaban Meher were celebrated at the Vani Vihar PG Council conference hall here on Friday.
The birthdays were celebrated jointly by the Gangadhar Meher Pratishtan, the Utkal Sammilani, the Bhulia Samaj, the International Theatre and the Odia Language and Literature Department of the Utkal University.
Senior administrator Sanjib Chandra Hota presided over the meeting. PG Council Chairman Prof Sabita Acharya gracing as chief guest felicitated Dr Bijay Kumar Patnaik with the Gangadhar Meher Samman.
Odisa Language and Literature HoD Dr Manindra Kumar Meher and Rotary governor Debashish Mihsra spoke.
In his speech, chief speaker Dr Bijay Kumar Patnaik said Meher had given focus on women empowerment in his writings. Thus, the concept of women empowerment was Meher’s creation.
At the outset, while Pratishtan president Mihir Meher had delivered welcome address, Mahendra Kumar Meher spoke on the literary contributions of Bhagaban Meher.
The programme came to an end with a voted of thanks proposed by Ganjadhar Meher Jayanti Committee joint secretary and Utkal Sammilani Mancheswar Industrial Estate Branch president Dillip Dashsharma.