The three-day annual convention of the Orissa Society of the Americas (OSA) concluded in Chicago on July 7 with about 1,400 from different parts of North America as well as from Odisha attending it.
The first day of the convention was devoted to ‘Odisha Development’. It began with an overview of what is going on in the name of development in India and Odisha, presented by Sam Pitroda. ODA president Annapurna Pandey chaired the session. It was followed by a session on ‘Invest Odisha’, in which entrepreneurs from the State like Ayaskanta Mohanty, Satyabrat Dutta and Debasish Patnaik, among others, presented their projects followed by a lively discussion.
The second panel was devoted to higher education opportunities for Odia students. Prof Abani Patra of the State University of New York at Buffalo moderated it. The presenters were Prof Richard Taub of University of Chicago, Prof Usha Menon of the Drexel University, Philadelphia, Prof Triloki Pandey of the University of California, Santa Cruz, Dr Sukanta Mahapatra of New York, Prof Asit Pattnaik of University of Nebraska and Mrutyunjay Suar of the KIIT University, Odisha.
It covered various subjects dealing with higher education and various opportunities available in the United States. The first day’s sessions concluded with a report on the Buddhist heritage of Odisha and an international symposium organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Odisha in February. Versatile Odia artist Dr Dinanath Pathy was the chief guest, and Jnanpith award-winning writer Dr Pratibha Ray, the keynote speaker, inaugurated this year’s OSA convention.
They spoke on how the diasporic Odias can maintain Odia heritage and culture. Various symposiums on issues such as women's empowerment; youth entrepreneurship; health; body, mind and spirit; Champu, Chhanda and Odissi vocal competitions; poetry; entrepreneurship; and Jagannath culture were organised.
This time vigorous participation by the young generation of Odias and a very congenial atmosphere created by the positive synergy between the local chapter and the OSA national was seen, while both young and old appreciated the cultural performances. Three Odia entertainers Kuna Tripathy, an actor and comedian and a political satirist, Krisna Beura, a Bollywood star singer and Sniti Mishra of SAREGAMAPA fame, participated in this event. They entertained the audience till the wee hours every day.
Newly-elected OSA president Tapan Padhi from Dallas, vice-president Sikhand Satpathy from Washington DC, secretary Sabita Panigrahy from Canada and treasurer Prasanta Ranabijuli from Dallas were installed into their respective offices at the general body meeting. The next OSA convention in 2014 has been scheduled to be held in Columbus, Ohio.