Bhubaneswar,15,Jan.2018: The glory of words holds the highest importance above all others. Those who are blessed with the brilliance they are remembered for eternity. The role of literature and culture is to direct the right way for the society towards morality and newspaper is the medium to reach the objective. The time has come to carry forward the principle to retain discipline and reform the society with ethics, opined the poets, litterateurs, journalists & columnists at the ‘Pragativadi’ Makar Milan Festival.
On the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti on Monday, ‘Makar Milan’ was organized on the premises of Pragativadi in Bhubaneswar.
Noted writers, poets, litterateurs, journalists, columnists and well-wishers of renowned Odia daily ‘Pragativadi’ graced the occasion and shed a light on the role of literature in the society, the duties of litterateurs and the ethics of newspapers.
The session commenced by garlanding the photograph of the founder Editor of Pragativadi, Shri Pradyumna Bal— a paradigm of ethical politics and journalism. The guests were accorded a warm welcome and they were also offered ‘Makar Chaula’ (uncooked newly harvested rice) as per traditions.
The Makar Milan fest session was presided over by the chief of Pragativadi family, Smt. Saswati Bal, wife of late Pradyumna Bal. Noted litterateurs including Adikanda Sahu, Rabi Narayan Mishra, Dr. Jagannath Mohapatra, Dr. Arjya Kumar Gyanendra, Dasa Benhur, Dr. Dhaneswar Sahu, Dr. Udhaba Charan Nayak, Dr. Sanghamitra Mishra, and Dr. Trinath Pattnaik took part in the session.
Similarly, poet Amaresh Biswal, columnist Prabhat Kumar Das, Dr. Sadanand Parida, Dr. Bansidhar Das, Dr. Baidhar Sahu, Dr. Ashok Maharana, Bipin Bihari Mohanty, Srikrushna Samal, Amitabh Sahu, Nagendra Nath Patnaik, Dr. Prafulla Kumar Majhi, Saroj Kumar Sahu, Niranjan Pati, columnist Krushna Chandra Badu, Prof Dr. Siba Narayan Nayak, Dr. Amitabh Panda, Kishore Mohanty, poet Durga Charan Sadangi, Bharat Chandra Das, Dr. Gouranga Tripathy were also among others who took part in the session.
Lecturer Ajay Patnaik, Ambika Swain, Madhuchanda Patnaik, Dr. Biwambar Das, Dr. Ramachandra Rout, Dhirendra Nath Sutar, senior journalist Prasanna Mohanty, Bankim Chandra Nayak, journalist Taraka Mohanty, Bibhuti Bhusan Senapati, advocate Silabhadra Sastri, editor of Kadambini Iti Samant, Radha Charan Nayak, Manas Jena, Binay Bhusan Mohanty, Batakrushna Mohapatra, Rabindra Kumar Barik, Saroj Kumar Satpathy, Kishore Kumar Mohanty also expressed their view s on the literary discussion.
Poet and MLA Arun Kumar Sahu, writer Chanda Mishra, Advocate Sitansu Mohan Dwibedi, social worker Bijay Kumar Tripathy, Jugal Charan Sethi, Bharat Majhi, Khirod Parida, Debendra Kar, DK Samantray, Belalasen Pati, Khirod Behera, Rajendra Mohapatra, Information officer Prabhakar Sahu, journalist Ajit Das, Pramod Panda and many well wisher also graced the occasion and praised ‘Pragativadi’ for the initiative. They said that the fest on literature and culture will carry forward the tradition of society.
They pointed out that, to further enhance the level of literature, ethics should be followed. They also advised the newspapers to work dedicatedly towards eliminating uncultured elements from the society.
In this competitive era, one should forget his culture and should work towards building a civilized society, the speakers advised the litterateurs and the journalists. In the fight between Indian and western culture, the young generation should adopt their own one, they said. During the festival, many of them recited heartwarming poetry.
The chief guest of the literary discussion, Smt. Saswati Bal said, “Pragativadi was born based on ethics and has kept it untouched even through many hurdles. ‘Pragativadi’ has never deviated from the path of impartiality, truth, and ethics. The journey of Prgativadi continues with the writers, poets, litterateurs, journalists, columnists, and well-wishers.
She also praised Siba Biswal, the publisher of Pragativadi Odia Daily, for putting forth the noble vision of Makar Milana and how the festival plays a major role in our lives and the farmers. Pragativadi organized the Makar Milan to further flourish the importance of Makar Sankranti, Smt. Bal added.
Welcoming the guests, ‘Pragativadi’ Bureau Chief, Birupakshya Tripathy, said that in order to discover new possibilities and the aim of development by bringing all under one roof, Pragativadi has made an attempt.
Senior sub-editor of ‘Pragativadi’ and coordinator of its literature page ‘Srujani’, Siba Prasad Puhan, senior sub-editor Sashibhusan Sahu and Nrusingha Charan Das, sub-editor Sasmita Nayak were prominent among other who organized the Makar Milan festival.
The entire team of ‘Pragativadi’ including Ramakanta Samantray, kailash Chandra Parida, Matrudatta Rath, Jagannath Padhi, Hemant Jena, Bhikari Baisakha, Hara Prasad Das, Dipak Mohapatra, Santosh Panda, Basant Parida, Umakanta Basantray, Prabhat Mallick, Lizarani Bidar, Tilottama Sahu, Barsarani Patra, Rakesh Biswal, Sunil Ray, Raghunath Mohapatra, Panchanana Mohapatra, Sambhunath Nayak, and Subodh Samal were also present during the event.
Prasanta Patnaik