Odia short story collection ‘Unmilana’, co-authored by Prasanta Mishra (Pundarika) and Kumar Aurojyoti (Ambarisa), and published by Astitva Prakashan, was formally released to readers during an event in holy town of Puri recently.
Distinguished guests gracing the occasion included eminent litterateur and researcher Dr. Sidheswar Mohapatra, heritage expert Dr. Surendra Kumar Mishra, noted writer Pramoda Devi, and Debi Prasanna Nanda. The event began with a melodious musical performance by Saswati Dash, which captivated the audience. Following this, the dignitaries lit a ceremonial lamp before Lord Jagannath to inaugurate the ceremony, after which the book was officially launched.
The authors shared their insights and emotional experiences related to the stories in the book during their address. The guests spoke on the authors’ writing style and expressed their views on the collection, offering analytical perspectives on literature. At a time when original short stories are becoming rare in modern literature compared to poetry, the speakers emphasized the need for such collections.
Dr. Surendra Kumar Mishra elaborated on the history of prose writing in literature and the place of Odia short stories within it. Dr. Sidheswar Mohapatra, a temple priest and linguist, appreciated the authors’ literary passion and encouraged them to continue creating more literature. Debi Prasanna Nanda discussed the themes of some stories in the book, highlighting their social relevance. Senior writer Pramoda Devi stressed the importance of conveying positive messages to society through literary creations.
Later, literary enthusiasts such as Ashoka Manjari Nayak, Lakshmikanta Tripathy, and Dr. Sarat Kumar Mohanty also shared their thoughts. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Sanjay Kumar Baral. The event was hosted by Sarbani Das.
