Many distinguished personalities from various disciplines, including litterateurs returning awards in protest against ‘rising intolerance’. This is unfortunate. Especially, returning of awards conferred by the nation is not acceptable, said Odisha Sahitya Akademi president Satakadi Hota at the observance of the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister Nabakrushna Choudhury here on Monday.
At the function organised by the fortnight newspaper Koshal Times, Hota said the nation becomes weak when there is split between language, religion and culture.
“A State can only progress, if it stays united forgetting regional disparities. Everyone should make efforts to remove social, economic and political inequalities from the society”, the author added.
On the occasion, former MlAs Saraswati Pradhan and Chandrasekhar Pradhan, ex-Sarpanch Makardhwaj Biswal, sculptor Gopal Krushna Bhoi, youth lawyer lipsit Mishra, Hrusikesh Bhoi, who plays the role Kansa in Baragarh, were felicitated for their achievements in their respective fields.
The event was chaired by Rajendra Padhee while Koshal Times Editor Sanjeeb Mohapatra gave welcome address.