The Vivekananda Pathak Manch, Nuarampas, of Keonjhar district that has been relentlessly trying to inculcate reading habit in children in schools for over a decade now was felicitated in New Delhi recently. ‘The Pioneer’ had highlighted the efforts of the Manch that had gone unsung for long.
The Intellect, a progressive forum of intellectuals of the Odia Diaspora in the national capital bestowed the Manch with the Prabashi Bhasa Samman in recognition of its contribution to the popularisation of Odia language and literature through a unique way. Manch founder convener Rabindra Kumar Nayak and member Sushil Subhadip Nayak received the award and citation at a function to mark the Mother Tongue Day on February 18.
Others who were also felicitated on the occasion included litterateur and former bureaucrat Debdas Chhotray, BN Patnaik (language), CUO VC Dr Sachidananda Mohanty (literature), Raju Mishra (cinema), Sandip Sahu (journalism), Dr Surjyamani Khatua (translation), Dr Paramita Jethi (literature), Dr Debasis Jethi (Odia language research), Binayak Patnaik (promotion of Odia outside Odisha), Sagar Satpathy (web journalism) and Asish Sarangi (social service). “It was an occasion of rejoicing and the felicitation will further inspire us,” said Rabindra Nayak.