Nimapada Sahitya Sansad Hosts 2 Days National Seminar to Mark Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab’s 125th Birth Anniversary
The celebration of Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab's 125th birth anniversary is a momentous occasion, honoring the life of a colossal figure in Indian history. Popularly known as 'Utkal Keshari,' Dr. Mahtab was the architect of modern Odisha, serving as the state's first Chief Minister (post-independence).
The two-day National seminar celebrating the 125th Birth Anniversary of Utkal Keshari Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab was held in the Conference Hall of National Archives of India, located in Madhusudan Nagar, Bhubaneswar. It was organized under the auspices of the Nimapada Sahitya Sansad, with support and assistance from the Odia Language Literature & Culture Department, Odisha Government, and in collaboration with the Odia Research Center. The inaugural ceremony on 6th December 2025 was graced by Prof. (Dr.) Chandi Prasad Nanda, Director of the Odisha Research Centre, as the Chief Guest, along with Prof. Babaji Charan Pattnaik, Editor of 'Jhankar', who participated as the Chief Speaker. The session was presided over by Prof. (Dr.) Basant Kumar Panda, and the Welcome address was delivered by Senior Advocate Suvendu Kumar Routray, President of the Nimapada Sahitya Sansad, who emphasised Mahtab’s unparalleled contributions to nation-building, most notably his decisive role alongside Sardar Patel in integrating 26 small princely states into Odisha. The program was formally inaugurated by the centenarian social worker and former MLA, Padmacharan Nayak. The program began with the singing of the 'Bande Utkala Janani'. The esteemed dignitaries unanimously lauded Mahtab as a leader who worked with a vision that transcended time and looked towards the future, making his legacy an enduring source of inspiration for the state.
During the event, several individuals were honored with Harekrushna Mahtab’s Award for their contributions in their respective fields. The honorees included Padmacharan Nayak (Politics), Dr. Babaji Charan Pattnaik (Literature), Dr. Kailash Chandra Das (History), and Nabin Das (Journalism).
The First Session of the National Seminar focused on the topic: ‘Literature, History and Other Dimensions of Harekrushna Mahtab's Personality’. Main Speakers in the discussion included eminent columnist Prahlad Singh, Reader Dr. Chinmayee Mohapatra, and Dr. Kunjabihari Mohanty. The speakers presented factual information, highlighting Dr. Mahtab's unique talent and explaining how the imprint of his personality on various sectors of society for the welfare of the state's residents is visible in his literary and historical compositions.
The Second Session involved a subject-based discussion on Life and Legacy of Harekrushna Mahtab. Main speakers included the Retired Principal of Nimapada College, Dr. Jogendra Mishra; Retired Professor Kalikinkar Pattnaik; and Dr. Pramodini Jena from the Centre of Excellence for studies in Classical Odia. They highlighted the magnificent role Mahtab played in various fields of Odisha, including political, social, cultural, educational, and journalistic. Through their discussion, they illuminated Mahtab's development-oriented initiatives in many areas, such as moving from the freedom struggle to the leadership of the Odisha province, from publishing literary magazines to newspapers.
The entire session saw the participation of more than hundreds of delegates from different parts of the state. At the end of the day, there was a national level poetry recitation session on the theme dedicated to the Nation. The session was presided over by the famous poet and Odisha Sahitya Academy member, Bahadur Pathshani from Dhenkanal district. Poets from various districts of Odisha participated in this session and recited their heartfelt poems in this auspicious celebration.
- Suvendu Kumar Routray
President, Nimapada Sahitya Sansad
