Birth Anniversary of Poet Kamalakanta Lenka Observed by “Bhala Kabitara Khoj”
* “Kamalakanta Lenka was a fearless literary revolutionary,” said the guests.
Balasore, 19/11 (Krushna Kumar Mohanty): The 80th session of “Bhala Kabitara Khoj” was held today at the (LCC) Lakhotia Computer Centre Hall to mark the birth anniversary of poet Kamalakanta Lenka.
The commemorative evening began with the lighting of a lamp before the poet’s portrait. The gathering observed a one-minute silence in memory of poet Rajendra Kishore Panda, literary scholar Prahlad Charan Mohanty, and singer Human Sagar.
On behalf of the “Kabi Kamalakanta Sahitya Samaj”, the poet’s son Sitansu Lenka delivered the welcome address and introduced the guests. Representing “Bhala Kabitara Khoj”, convener Krushna Kumar Mohanty chaired the session, while co-convener poet Srideb discussed an interview on Kamalakanta Lenka published in 'Chandrabhaga'. Secretary of “Bhala Kabitara Khoj” poet Utpal Mohanty outlined the focus of the meeting and welcomed the dignitaries.
Speakers described Kamalakanta Lenka as a literary revolutionary whose poetic voice was bold and distinctive. His work carried the spirit of atheistic existentialism, and his technical experiments, especially in his poem “Uttarayana,” remain unmatched even today. His poetry forged a fresh form through intimacy, realism, humanism, and optimism. The intellectual stream that emerged in the 1960s as the “third poetic movement” found one of its strongest origins in Kamalakanta’s poetic voice.
Noted story writer Rajanikanta Mohanty, Dr. Harischandra Behera, poet Bimal Jena, critic Dr. Santosh Kumar Nayak, poet Preetilekha Das, poet Ranjan Baug, poet-translator Somnath Ojha, poet Abhaya Das, Akshaya Kumar Jena, Sipra Jena, Dr. Prabhat Kumar Jena, Ramachandra Sahoo, Basant Kumar Nayak, Himanshu Das and others attended the event, recited Kamalakanta’s poems and paid their respects.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Sitansu Lenka.
