On 8 November, as Deepavali lamps flickered across Odisha, the premises once alive with the daily pulse of a fearless Odia newspaper glowed with special intensity. Staff members, young performers, orphaned and underprivileged children, Gandhian thinkers, writers and columnists gathered to mark the 94th birth anniversary of Pradyumna Bal — the uncompromising politician, social justice crusader and founder-editor of Pragativadi whose life remains a living textbook of value-based journalism. The third and final day of the state-level celebrations closed with floral tributes, striking cultural presentations and a grand Deepotsav that turned remembrance into light.
The day began in quiet solemnity. Every member of the organisation stepped forward to place flowers before the portrait of the founder-editor. The collective gesture carried the weight of decades of shared struggle for truth, the defence of Odisha’s natural resources and an unyielding commitment to the common citizen. Editorial Director Lalit Pattajoshi and Executive Editor Birypakshya Tripathy remained present throughout, lending quiet continuity to the institution Pradyumna Bal built from conviction rather than convenience.
Retired Justice Manoranjan Mohanty, who steered the entire three-day programme as chairman of the state-level jayanti committee, coordinated the proceedings with measured dignity. Under his guidance the formalities flowed seamlessly into the cultural heart of the day.
Students from Kataka’s Barabati group took the stage and instantly lifted the atmosphere. Selected to perform at the historic Bali Jatra, the young artists fused ancient dance steps associated with Goddess Kali with a sequence of yoga asanas, all set to music. The performance was neither pure dance nor pure yoga; it became a living dialogue between tradition and discipline. Strong, fluid movements evoked Kali’s fierce protective energy while controlled asanas spoke of inner balance and resilience — qualities Pradyumna Bal himself embodied in public life. The audience watched in absorbed silence.
Soon afterwards another group of children stepped forward. Girls from the city’s slums and orphanages, brought together by the Asayen organisation, offered a vibrant Sambalpuri folk dance. Their colourful attire, precise footwork and infectious energy transformed the space into a celebration of Odisha’s living folk heritage. In honouring Pradyumna Bal through their art, these young performers reminded everyone present that the values he championed — social justice, dignity of the marginalised and cultural pride — continue to find expression in the next generation.
The presence of noted Gandhian Prahallad Singh added philosophical depth. Accompanied by other eminent writers, columnists and fellow Gandhians, he brought the quiet authority of a life lived in the spirit of non-violence and truth. In their company the gathering became more than a commemorative event; it turned into a living conversation about the continuing relevance of fearlessness in public life and the media.
Amid the cultural presentations, institutional gratitude found its place. Chief Finance Officer Ramakant Samantray was felicitated along with the advertorial staff whose steady work sustains the organisation. Journalists from various media houses were also honoured, acknowledging the wider fraternity that continues the daily labour of informing the public.
As dusk settled, the campus prepared for the Deepotsav. A carefully arranged constellation of lamps transformed the premises into a luminous tribute. The lighting of the diyas was not mere ritual; it was the culmination of three days of reflection that had already included intellectual conventions, memorial lectures on press freedom and democracy, and recognition of grassroots workers and principled journalists. On this final evening the flames seemed to carry forward the same light Pradyumna Bal once held up against darkness — whether political compromise, corporate pressure or the erosion of journalistic courage.
Pradyumna Bal’s journey from uncompromising politician to champion of value-based journalism still resonates. He fought for social justice and for the protection of Odisha’s natural wealth with a consistency that refused easy alliances. Those who knew him or followed his writings remember a man who treated the newspaper not as a business but as a public trust. In an age when concerns about media ownership, state influence and declining press freedom rankings are openly discussed, the simple act of gathering on his birth anniversary acquires renewed meaning. The message that emerged across the three days remains clear: without fearlessness in the media, democracy loses its anchor.
The cultural performances on the closing day gave that message physical form. The Barabati youth embodied the strength and balance required to speak truth. The Sambalpuri dancers from among the city’s most vulnerable children embodied the inclusive spirit that refuses to leave anyone behind. The Gandhians present embodied the ethical continuity linking past struggle to present responsibility. And the lamps of Deepotsav, glowing across the campus, transformed private memory into shared public light.
As the last diyas burned steadily into the night, the three-day observance drew to a close. Staff members, guests and young performers dispersed carrying more than the memory of a ceremony. They carried a renewed sense that the ideals Pradyumna Bal lived by — truth without fear, justice without calculation, and journalism as public service — still have the power to illuminate the path ahead. On the day that was both his birthday and the festival of lights, Odisha paused to remember, and in remembering, to recommit.
