Recognising Padma Shri awardee Haldhar Nag’s contributions to Kosli dialect and literature, the State Government would set up a research centre for Kosli dialect and literature at his native Ghens village in Bargarh district and name it after the 66-year-old poet.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced this while felicitating Nag at his residence Naveen Nivas here on Thursday.
Patnaik presented a shawl, a silver filigree work, and a flower bouquet to the poet. Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda, Textiles, Handlooms and Handicrafts Minister Snehangini Chhuria, MPs Prasanna Patasani and Pravash Singh and MlAs Dr Raseswari Panigrahi and Sushant Singh, among others, were present.
Notably, Nag, a Class-III dropout, has carved a niche for himself in the literary field. Impressed by his poetry, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) had filmed a documentary on his life and works.
Till he entered into his 40s, he wrote lokgeet, Samparda, and Krushnaguru which are the roots of the Kosli literature. later, he started writing poetry in Kosli dialect.
Some of the popular works of Nag include Mahasati Urmila, Bacchhar, Tara Mandodari, Achhia (inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s fight against untouchability), Siri Somalai, Veer Sundar Sai, Karamsani, Rasia Kavi (biography of Tulasidas) and Prem Paechan.