By Our Correspondent
NEWYORK/LONDON/MOSCO/TORONTO: Global Odias unanimously underlined that Mahatma Gandhiji’s principles and preachings still hold tremendous relevance and utmost significance in the contemporary World. Participating in an International Webinar on the Life and Philosophy of Gandhiji hosted by Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department of Government of Odisha in collaboration with Odisha Sahitya Akademi and World Odisha Society to celebrate hundred years of Gandhi’s visit to Odisha, the distinguished speakers highlighted that Mahatma’s main hymns like peace and non violence continues to caste magic and mesmerism across the Globe.
Esteemed members of Odisha Sahitya Akademi and World Odisha Society, Representatives of Odia Samaj of Different Countries and prominent non resident Odias paid glowing tributes to the Father of the Nation on the eve of his 152nd Birth Anniversary during the midnight online deliberations on 1st October 2021 entitled “Gandhi Charcha”. While hundreds of members of Odia Diaspora from the nook and corner of the World took part in the mega Internet Event, thousands of viewers joined the Jamboori through Social networks. Welcoming the Guests Secretary of Odisha Sahitya Akademi Prabodh Kumar Rout said Gandhiji was not a mere individual, he was a gigantic institution. Host of the Ceremony and Chairman of World Odisha Society Kishore Dwibedi expressed satisfaction over the large turn out of Non Resident Odias in the Webinar.
Inaugurating the Six hours long marathon celebration, Odisha’s Minister of Odia Language, Literature, Culture and Tourism Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi described Gandhiji as a Crownless Monarch. His ideals and Ideologies are guiding spirits and inspirational sources for the whole World, Shri Panigrahi added. Gandhiji’s messages of peace and non violence towards humanity shall remain relevant forever, Minister pointed. Presiding over the meeting President of Odisha Sahitya Akademi Dr. Hrushikesh Mallick unequivocally eulogized the massive motivational skill of Gandhiji. In one call he could ignite and electrify the mass movement from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Shri Mallick mentioned. Chief Guest Secretary of the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture Dr. Suresh Chandra Dalai observed that the credit for all of us feeling proud to be Indians goes to Gandhiji only.
Delivering his speech Guest of Honour and Director of Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department Ranjan Kumar Das opined that the best tribute to Gandhiji would be to translate his ideals into actions. President of Harijan Sevak Sangha Shankar Kumar Sanyal deliberated on the far reaching impact of Gandhiji’s principles on Social, economic, political, cultural and health aspects of life as well as peaceful co – existence, inclusive growth and overall development in Society. Director of International Indecency Prevention Movement Dr. Arundhati Debi explained that Gandhiji’s dedicated deeds made him Mahatma from a common man. In his concluding remarks Vice President of Odisha Sahitya Akademi Dr. Sangram Jena disclosed that Gandhiji wanted to implement Madhusudan Das and Gopabandhu Das’s Blueprints as the fundamental structures of Independent and Self Reliant India. President of Abu Dhabi Odisha Samaj Pradeep Kumar Rath noted that Gandhi’s philosophy shall remain valid as long as World and Human race exist. President of Australia’s Odia Samaj Dr. Nalini Pati presented vote of thanks. Ace anchors Dr. Debasis Mahapatra and Snehalata Prusty moderated the entire proceedings in a nice and lucid manner. Nandan Dwibedi ably managed the digital control room.
At the outset Silent Prayers offered in the memory of Odisha Sahitya Akademi’s Former President Dr. Manorama Mohapatra and two Ex Secretaries Indu Bhushan Kar and Prof. Rajkishore Mishra.
The scintillating recital of Ramdhun in Guitar by Deepak Sarangi and presentation of traditional Das kathia on the theme of Gandhiji by talented twin Brothers Om and Sai Mohapatra enthralled the audiences during the occasion. Others who paid rich homage to the Father of the Nation through delivering their speeches or reciting poems include Banojini Nayak from Singapore, Vinayak Das and Dr Anita Panda from New Delhi, Dr. Harish Chandra Behera, Prasanna Kumar Swain and Hrushikesh Patra from Bhubaneswar, Prabodh kumar Rout and Dr. Arundhati Debi from Cuttack, Krupanidhi Biswal from Deoghar, Jayashree Nanda from London, Sanjay Dalai from Dallas, Dr. Bijay Kumar Maharana from Mumbai, Satyabrata Mohanty from Bhadrak, Amiya Mishra from Dubai, Saswat Padhi from Netherlands, Santosh Mishra from Moscow, Sibaranjan Biswal from Manchester and Prasant Bhuyan from Toronto.
Prominent personalities present include Vice Chancellor of SOA University Dr. Ashok Kumar Mohapatra, Dr. Rajendra Narayan Das from Germany, Nihar Samantara from Bangalore, Pitambar and Ahlaya Barik and Shambhunath Das from Kolkata, Film Director Sabyasachi Mohapatra, renowned Litterateur Dr. Fani Mohanty, Jayant Gantayat from Surat, Lipsa Patnaik Mohanty from Faridabad, Debarshi Mallick from Indonesia, Akshay Mohanty from Rhodes Island, Chiranjeev Swain from Singapore, Dr. Sitanshu Sekhar Nanda from Seoul, C.A. Rabi Pani, Reeta Patra, Dr. Debendra Majhi, Dr. Sanatan Mahakud, Sujata Shiven, Jai Prakash Pandey, M.S. Zaman, Dr. Chandramani Brahmadutt, Manoj Panigrahi and Ramesh Sahoo from New Delhi, Siddharth Das from Abu Dhabi, Dr. Sagar Ranjan Tripathy from Berhampur, Kuldip Rath, Editor of Sri Sahitya Krushna Nayak, Dr. Swami Chidananda, Sunil kumar Rout, Dr. Chidatmika Khatua, Manoj Nayak, Pabitra Maharatha, Dr. Rabi Narayan Behera and Bhagban Parida from Bhubaneswar, Badri Mohapatra from Ahmedabad, Pritish Dash from Dubai, Lalit Kumar Pradhan from Sambalpur, President Utkal Association Ghana Deepak Das, Binay Pattanayak from Jharkhand, Srimant Biswal from Gurugram, Shubhashree Lenka from Balasore, Jayasmita Mishra from New York and Gopal Krushna Mohapatra from Cuttack.
