KALAHANDI BECOMES THE FIRST TO HOST
Celebrations of Golden Jubilee of Orissa Sahitya Akademi in the district level commenced with Kalahandi becoming the first district to host with its Collector Pramod Chandra Pattanayak inaugurating the Administration-Akademi partnership in assessing Kalahandis contributions to culture of Orissa.
Commenced at 10 AM on 28 Oct.2007, the event was observed in two sessions. The symposium on Kalahandis contributions to Orissan Culture was held in the first session with eminent writers and researchers like Narayan Prasad Pattanayak, Smt. Debahruti Kar, Ajay kumar Mishra and Shukru Swain as guests of honor. Ramesh Chandra Satapathy, Dr. Anjali Padhi and Janmenjaya Patra contributed their observations on the keynote address delivered by Prof. Parameswar Mund on the subject. Presenting the programme of the Akademi, Secretary Dr. Parichha Pattanaik had stressed on documentation of the districts unique folk art and folk literature that though unsophisticated in composition and choreography, carry the innermost feelings of tribal heart. Vice President of the Akademi, Hushen Ravi Gandhi was in the chair.
Held in the afternoon, the second session effervesced with poets of the district offering their compositions giving glimpses of how richly the Oriya rural belt is endowed with literary talents. Satya Pattanayak and Smt. Saswati Vishwakalyani were the coordinators.
The event ended in the evening enlivened under rhythms of music and dance offered by Kalahandi Kalakendra, Mahavir Samskruti Anusthan, Kalinga Samskrutika Anusthan, Odissi Dance Institute of Junagarh and Balagopal Seva Niketan etc.