The sixty-first birth anniversary Santilata Patra, former editor of Jyotsna, a literary magazine, was observed at Santilata Bhawan in the Jyostna press premises here on Sunday amidst chanting of the Gita verses by her husband Basudeb Patra, a columnist and a poet.
Gracing the occasion as chief guest, Rayagada Poetry Festival president Badal Kumar Tah recollected how Santilata untiringly worked for development of Odia literature in the State. She would always be remembered for shaping career of several budding poets and writers through Jyotsna, Tah said. Well-known Odia literati Dambarudhar Pattanaik highlighted various literary initiatives solely taken up by Santilata. He hailed the organisers for conducting the programme in her commemoration.
President of Rayagada Senior Citizens’ Association Narasingha Nath Padhi was felicitated on this occasion. In his speech, Padhi remembered his association with Santilata as a literary fellow. Retired teacher and Vedic scholar Prafulla Chandra Hota was also felicitated. BJP leader Kaliram Majhi felicitated the two personalities. Tablist and poet Basudeb Routray presided over the function.