The 200th year of the Paika Bidroh (rebellion) was celebrated in the premises of the Umar Baladevjiu Nodal ME School, Mahanga by the Odisha chapter of the Kalinga Bharati Foundation on Saturday.
Culture Department of the State and Union Governments provided the support. Additional District Education Officer Madanmohan Malla presided over the seminar. Eminent child litterateur Dr Basant Kumar Sahoo, former Reader Dr Bhubanananda Sahoo, noted litterateur Dr Ekadashi Pradhan and Bhabagrahi Dash, noted teacher Akshay Sarangi and Akshay Kumar Samal spoke on the Paika movements of Odisha in 1807 and termed it as the first war of Indian Independence prior to the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny.
Eight educationists were felicitated with the Kalinga Bharati Sikshya Samman and six personalities were awarded with the Kalinga Bharati Seva Samman with financial support.
Besides, 15 meritorious students were awarded with ‘Kalinga Bharati Pratibha Samman 2017’.
A poetry recital session on the heroism and sacrifices of Paikas was held. Poets Prafulla Kumar Singh and Poet Manoj Kumar Mahapatra participated, among others.
This was followed by a dance programme by Arpita Priyadarshini.
Earlier, Jyotiranjan Mohanty offered a welcome address and, in the end, teacher Prafulla Kumar Sahoo offered a vote of thanks.