Literary Programme Dedicated to Students and Youth Held at Shantikanan in Fakirmohan Jayanti
Balasore, 16/1 (Krushna Kumar Mohanty): Students and youth are the future of the nation. With the objective of reaffirming the importance of Odia identity in Odisha, a land rich in language and literature, one day of the four-day Fakir Mohan Jayanti celebration was specially dedicated to students and the younger generation.
The programme was organised at Shantikanan, associated with the great literary figure Fakir Mohan Senapati.
The Principal of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, Professor Dinesh Kumar Das, attended the event as the chief guest. In his address, he observed that the nation would surely progress if the youth move forward with enlightened and progressive thinking, and in this journey, language and literature play a crucial role.
Sudhanshu Panda, Chairman of Siddhi Vinayak Public School, Balasore, joined as the guest of honour. He advised students to be guided by moral values and to become torchbearers of national development. Dr Umashankar Patra from IIT Chennai participated as the keynote speaker and described Fakir Mohan as a primary source of language, education, and culture. He stated that it is impossible to imagine the future of the Odia community without Fakir Mohan and added that by accepting Fakir Mohan as an ideal and shaping one’s personality accordingly, one can achieve extraordinary success in life.
Dr Sukanti Mahapatra, Lecturer of Charampa College; Dr Dharmapada Jena, Associate Professor, OUAT, Bhubaneswar; Siddhartha Baral, Lecturer of Amarda College; and Dr Prateechee Nanda of Kuntala Kumari Sabat Women’s College also attended the programme and shared their reflections on Fakir Mohan’s life and literature.
The programme was presided over by Dr Subas Chandra Patra, President of Fakir Mohan Sahitya Parishad, while Joint Secretary Rajesh Giri presented the introductory note. Executive Committee Member Dr Sukanta Giri coordinated the stage proceedings, and Bishnu Prasad Mohanty, another executive member, delivered the vote of thanks.
On this occasion, Shri Babul Kumar Kabi, a postgraduate student of Fakir Mohan University, was awarded the Fakir Mohan Short Story Award. Sushree Sunayana Shri De of Kamarda Degree College and Shri Manoj Kumar Malik, a B.Ed. student of the Teachers’ Training College, were awarded as second prize winners. Librarian Bidyulata Pati was also felicitated.
The programme was supported by Treasurer Tapan Ray, Joint Secretary Kalyani Nanda, Dr Sarangadhar Tripathy, and short story writer Smrutilata Das. Students from Fakir Mohan College, KKS College, Balangi College, and Siddhi Vinayak Public School participated actively.
In the evening, artists from Fakir Mohan University, Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, and various cultural organisations presented an entertaining cultural programme. The event was inaugurated by renowned dramatist Hemendra Mahapatra.
