Odisha’s rich cultural heritage and ancient traditions are gradually declining due to a societal shift away from joint family structures, warned educationist, columnist, and author Dr Kamal Prasad Mohapatra.
Speaking as the chief speaker at the 5th edition of the Pragyan Chakra program titled “Our Heritage at Crossroads,” held at the Pragativadi premises on Sunday evening, Dr. Mohapatra stressed that heritage protection must begin at home and evolve into a broad social movement.
The Pillars of Odisha’s Identity
Dr Mohapatra highlighted that Odisha’s heritage encompasses profound literature, vibrant culture, classical arts, architecture, a glorious maritime history, and unmatched valour.
-
Literature & Language: Describing Jagannath culture as the embodiment of humanism and family values, he noted that Odia literature surpasses many global languages in richness. Citing legendary poets like Upendra Bhanja, Abhimanyu Samanta Singhar, Jayadeva, and Sarala Das, he emphasised the pride of Odia achieving classical language status in 2014.
-
Maritime Legacy: Recalling ancient maritime traditions, he described how early Odia merchants (Sadhabas) sailed to distant lands like Java and Sumatra in boats (boitas), driving economic prosperity.
-
Art and Architecture: Praising architectural wonders such as the Konark Sun Temple, Puri Jagannath Temple, and Bhubaneswar’s Lingaraj Temple, he noted that such intricate craftsmanship is rare elsewhere. He also honoured historical figures like Dharama, Emperor Ashoka, Emperor Kharavela, and Kapilendra Deb.
The Need for Action
Dr Mohapatra expressed concern that ruling authorities often overlook the preservation of this historical legacy due to a lack of political will, pointing out the necessity for specialised higher education and research centres in Odisha under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He urged the government and citizens to collaborate closely, following in the footsteps of visionaries like Madhu Babu and Pandit Nilakantha.
The event was coordinated by eminent educationist and columnist Professor Biswaranjan. Dignitaries including Dr Bhagabat Shukla, Dr Basanti Mohanty, Dr Satyanarayan Mishra, and others participated actively, posing questions to the keynote speaker. The program concluded with a floral tribute to Pragativadi founder Pradyumna Bal, followed by a felicitation of Dr Mohapatra and a vote of thanks delivered by Manoranjan Das.
