The Nikhila Orissa Pragatisila lekhaka Mahasangha celebrated its 17th annual day at the Jaydev Bhavan here where many writers kept their views on needs of contemporary literature in taking forward the human society.
Attending as chief guest, SC and ST Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi said the State Government is committed to fully implement the Odisha Official language Act at all levels.
Kendra Sahitya Akademi Odisha Advisors’ Convenor Gourahari Das opined that poets and writers should keep up writing on own artistic way instead of going for slogans.
Utkal Sahitya Samaj president Dr Bijayananda Singh said literature is a parallel history of the human society as writers reflect progressive messages in their writings.
Stating that struggles of various groups are reflected in literature, Odisha Sahitya Akademi Secretary Ashwini Kumar Mishra lamented the gunshot attack on farmers.
Former Rajya Sabha member and Mahasangah president Baishnab Charan Parida presided over the function. He expressed deep concern that food habits of human beings are now being disputed and debated in the country.
At the outset, Golak Bihari Nayak delivered welcome address and Kanduri Charan Das read out annual report. Apart from a souvenir, a book, Kalinga Kala, written by late Sundarmani Patnaik was released on the occasion.
On the occasion, poet Surya Mohanty was conferred with the ‘Prof Bibhuti Bhushan Smruti Samman’, Prabir Mohanty with Kabi Boitai Smruti Samman’, Minati Behera with ‘Kabyabharati Sundarmani Smruti Samman, Benu Pratihari with ‘Shilpi Aseem Basu Smruti Samman and Sabitarani Mahapatra was felicitates with ‘Kabi Narasingha Nanda Smruti Samman. A total of 12 writers were felicitated
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by ‘Unnati Pathe’ editor and Mahasangha senior advisor Pradyumna Kumar Mohanty.