The Sahitya Akademi organised a programme called “People and Books” here on Saturday wherein chief speaker eminent cardiologist and artist Dr Jadunath Prasad Das shared with his views on the books which have a great influence in his life beginning from childhood. Good books lead a person from darkness to light, he observed.
The Bhajan Ahe dayamaya biswa bihari, which schoolchildren sang as their prayer, had an impact on him in his childhood, he said. Parents’ reading habit also have an influence on the minds of the children, he said, pointing out that his father’s reading of the Tulasi Ramayana and Bhagabat had greatly influenced him.
Dr Das said Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography also influenced him vastly. Utkalamani Gopabandhu Das’ books Kara Kabita and Bandira Atmakatha instilled in him a feeling of patriotism and induced him to follow the Swadeshi movement. He wore khadi being influenced by those books, which also shaped his life and personality.
Dr Das recalled that his first posting as a doctor was in a tribal area of Mayurbhanj district. He had an opportunity to be familiar with tribal people and their living style and culture. Tribals are very honest and simple, he said. “As I knew them and was familiar with their living style, Gopinath Mohanty’s books Paraja and Amrutara Santana (which depicts tribals’ life) also touched my heart,” he said.
Besides, Sachhi Routray’s Baji Raut, poems of Radhamohan Gadanayak, Matira Manisa of Kalindi Charan Panigrahi, Rabindra Nath Tagore’s Geetanjali also had their effects on his life and personality, Dr Das said. He also recollected how inspiring to him were Surendra Mohanty’s Satabdi ra Surya, Kali Charan Pattanayak’s Kumbhara Chaka, Pratibha Ray’s Jajnaseni and the writings of English veterans like Wordsworth and Thomas Gray.
In his welcome address, Convener of Odia Advisory Board of Sahitya Akademi Dr Gourahari Das said Dr JP Das understands both hearts and minds of people. Kendra Sahitya Akademi Secretary K Srinivas Rao introduced Dr Das.