The West Odisha History Congress (WOHC) held its fourth webinar series on Sunday with a welcome address by WOHC secretary Dr Trilochan Jena. Former IAS officer Dr Jayadev Sarangi, who was chief guest, in his informative and insightful speech, raised several issues on history and culture of Odisha in general and western Odisha in particular, which have not been investigated properly.
Dr Sarangi exhorted researchers to find out the link between Asurgarh (Narla, Kalahandi district) with maritime trade and situate the history and culture of sub-regional and regional geographical entity in a global perspective.
Dr Benudhara Patra, Associate Professor, PG Government College, Chandigarh, who was resource person of the webinar, delivered his talk on the topic “Situating the Maritime Heritage of Early Odisha: Text, Tradition & Archaeology".
In the questionnaire session, participants asked several questions. The discussions also covered recent trends of researches that are going on in historical and archaeological studies. Eminent scholars like Dr Sila Tripati and Dr Rajesh Purohit suggested that the Odisha history and archaeology be interpreted and highlighted in proper contexts and regional studies; results of researches be placed in international platform.
WOHC president Dr Baba Mishra, vice-president Dr PK Dansena and treasurer Dr Ranbir Singh presented their papers. Dr Sakir Hussain of the Ispat Autonomous College, Rourkela, was the moderator of the webinar and Dr Kalpana Meher of the Government Women's College, Sambalpur, extended a vote of thanks.
The illuminating presentation of Dr Patra stressed on all available sources of seafaring activity of the Kalingans. His emphasis on riverine trade and its linkages on oceanic trade was the other dimension of his discourse.