The quarterly peer reviewed literary journal, Rock Pebbles, in association with Authorspress, New Delhi, organised a national poetry festival at Kendrapara recently.
Noted storywriter and former president of Odisha Sahitya Akademi Prof Ramachandra Behera joined as the chief guest while former Director of Higher Education Prof Gangadhar Mishra was the chief speaker.
Additional Secretary, GA poet Pradeep Biswal together with CEO, Authorspress, New Delhi, Sudarsan Kcherry graced the occasion as guests of honour.
The guests and literary personalities opined that poetry ennobles by purging one’s ego and appealing to finer sensibilities while immensely contributing to the vertical growth of human civilisation.
The august session with a packed audience and budding writers was presided over by VN Autonomous College English HoD Prof Kusha Chandra Pradhan.
A book captioned as ‘Quest For Freedom’ by Prof Pradhan was released by the chief guest.
Prof Gangadhar Mishra’s ‘The Harvestor’, Prof Sumitra Mishra’s ‘Flames of Silences’, Prof Saroj K Padhi’s ‘Monsoon Memories’ and Prof Pratyush Mishra’s ‘Fiery Silences’ were also released by the guests on the memorable occasion.
In the second session, poets from across the country recited their poems. The session was presided over by Prof Rajendra Padhi and coordinated by lopamudra Mishra, Swapna Behera, Shamsul Haq and Dr Satvir Singh. Poetry aficionados braved the incessant rains and enjoyed the warmth and joy of memorable poetry session.
Releasing the monsoon issue of the over three decades long publication ‘Rock Pebbles’, Prof Behera lauded the untiring efforts of its editor and publisher Udayanath Majhi and its president Prof Kush Chandra Pradhan.