A two-day Tribal Art and literature Festival, organised by the Sikshasandhan, got underway at Kalinga Vihar here on the occasion of the International Mother Tongue Day on Saturday. A large number of tribal writers, artists, painters and dramatist participated in the programme. More than 110 tribals belonging from various linguistic groups like Ho, Santhal, Kui, Saura, etc, attended the festival.
Chief Guest Prof Khagewar Mohapatra said “to save our language we must try to develop our language and use it in the process of education. Our mother tongue can only be developed when we have more literary developments and a dedicated research”.
Noted tribal leader and writer Surai Hembram said that each tribal group has its distinct literature and culture; the more primitive the tribe is, the richer its cultural element is. “Tribal language can only be survived if we utilise our indigenous knowledge to its fullest and have a full-fledged research in this direction,” he added.
Folklorist Dr Mahendra Mishra, former Minister Virbhadra Singh, Dr Aurobindo Behera and Sikshasandhan member Secretary Anil Pradhan spoke. The inaugural session was presided by Kendra Sahitya Academy awardee and writer Sangram Jena. Eminent linguist Padmashree Debi Prasanna Pattanaik joined the event as special guest.