A book entitled “Sir’s Scooter and Other Stories” was released at the Red Cross Bhawan here on the Rath Yatra day.
The original writer is Umakanta Rout (Aroop) and the book has been translated by critic and translator Dr Kamala Prasad Mohapatra, former Regional Director of Education, Odisha. The Authorspress, New Delhi has published the book.
The meeting was presided over by poet Nirakara Das, Senior Public Relations officer, East Coast Railway, who described Rout as a successful storyteller, a powerful poet and a social activist.
Chief guest former Revenshwa College Principal Dr Profulla Mohanty praised the quality of the short stories and emphasised the indispensability of translation for promotion of literature.
Former Professor of English of Utkal University and unique translator Dr Jatindra Kumar Nayak, who was chief speaker, said, “Rout deftly dissects human relationships and shows how they shift and change and reveal the unsuspected facets of the human condition.
Accruing a layer of gentle irony, the stories shock the readers into an awareness of the mystery of human behaviour and the unpredictability of our response to life and experience.”
Guest of honour Dr KP Mohapatra narrated how the plots, symbolism, myths, metaphor, folk images, rustic landscapes, trenchant ironic, unleashing tacit hints for reformation, lucid description has moved him to translate the stories at a stretch.
Authorspress chief Sudarshan Kcherry said the love and blessings of lord Jagannath has made him feel Odisha as his second home; and he was very happy that the book was released on the sacred day of Rath Yatra. Poet Sarada Prasad Mohapatra extended a of thanks.