The 14th anniversary function of the Vivekananda Pathak Manch and felicitation of the best selected students in various literary competitions were held at Nua Rampas ME School in Keonjhar recently.
The Manch had organized a series of competitions including reader of largest number of Odia literary works, poem composition, elocution, singing and satire writing etc. on December 16 where 350 students from around 60 schools of Hatadihi block and its vicinity had participated.
On the occasion, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) English Professor and litterateur Dipti Ranjan Pattnaik, AIR poet Haladhar Sutar, language and culture activist Sarada Prasad Mohapatra and Manch advisor Bhakta Sekhar Sa joined as guests. Giti Jhar, a compilation by Susil Subhadeep Nayak, of poems of the best child poets, was released by the guests.
While the successful students in various categories were given away awards, Harekrushna Suar and Laxmipriya Samal as best readers in junior and senior categories respectively were felicitated.
Besides, educationist Pitambar Ayach, artist Govind Chandra Jena and highest scorer of marks in 2018 HSC examination of Malati Devi High School Subha Smita Pattanaik were honoured.
While Bibhudhendu Pradhan compeered, social activist and educationist Rashmi Ranjan Dash conducted a question-answer session. Members of the Manch like Sanjaya Barik, Abhimanyu Sahu, Srikanta Pattanaik among others coordinated.
Notably, the Manch for over last 14 years has been relentlessly working to encourage reading habit of the school students of Odia literary works under the leadership of educationist and litterateur Rabindra Kumar Nayak.