Utkal Divas celebrated in JNU: Speakers expressed concern over failure of state’s mechanism

From Sankar Duriya

Orissa Students Association (OSA), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi celebrated 80th Utkal Divas on 1st April 2015 in the University premises with grand success. Shri Rabindra Nath Singh, senior bureaucrat and social activist was the chief guest on this auspicious occasion and addressed the audience extensively on development, marginality and regional disparities in Orissa.

Shri Kulamani Biswal, Director of Finance, NTPC, New Delhi was the guest of honor. He paid reach tributes to Utkal Gaurav Madhusudan Das and his contemporary leadership of Orissa who had fought for recreation of Orissa as the first linguistic State of India.

H.B. Bohidar, School of Physical Sciences and Chairperson, Special Centre for Nano Science was the chief speaker. He emphasized on creation of climate for quality education, health, sanitation and empowerment of marginalized sections if Orissa is to proceed towards real betterment.

Oriya Students of JNU, Delhi University and Cultural troupe of Orissa performed Samablpuri, folk dance of Koraput Dhemsa, Tribal Dance, Odissi, and many more cultural programs in the evening. Large number of audience from JNU, DU, and across National Capital Territory of Delhi participated and enjoyed the cultural program.

Odisha Students Association formed in JNU with a vision for the development of Odisha with inclusiveness, democratic ethos, and academic spirit of students’ movement for the cause of social justice, equality, and welfare of all sections of Orissa.

The Orissa Students Association (OSA), JNU also organized one day National Seminar on Development and Marginality: Locating Orissa in Contemporary India at JNU on 28th March 2015 to commemorate Orissa Foundation Day.

Amongst others, Professor Biswamaya Pati, Department of History, Delhi University; Professor Raj Kumar, Department of English, Delhi University; Dr. Prabhakar Palaka, Department of English, DU; Dr. Bishnu Nag, Department of Economics, DU; Dr. Pradyumna Bag, Department of Sociology, Jamia Milia Islamia (Central University, Delhi); Dr. Pankaj Deep, Department of Law & Public Policy, Gautam Buddha University; Dr. Tapan Kumar Mahanand, Department of Political Science, DU spoke on the occasion.

In their presentations they raised the failure of state’s mechanism and raised some important questions on the issues of social justice, regional disparities, and historical negligence of certain sections of society. They also suggested valuable ideas on the said issues.

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