“All-out efforts have to be made to popularize the literary oeuvre of Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja,” says CEO, RSP

Rourkela, Sept 11: “All-out efforts have to be made to popularize the literary oeuvre of Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja,” said GS Prasad, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) while addressing the gathering at the ‘Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Festival-2015’ organized at Civic Centre on Thursday.

The programme was organised by Aks foundation, a cultural organisation of New Delhi under the auspices of RSP.

The cultural evening was inaugurated by the CEO with lighting the ceremonial lamp and paying floral tributes to the legend Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja. Mrs Manjari Prasad, President of Deepika Mahila Sanghati (DMS) was the Guest of Honour on the occasion.

M K Das, ED (Projects), Mrs Sharmistha Das, Vice President of DMS, Dr AK Singh, Director-in-charge (M&HS), several senior officers of the plant and many culture loving citizens of Rourkela were also present on the occasion.

Prasad along with Mrs Manjari Prasad presented the ‘Upendra Bhanja Samman – 2015’ to eminent artistes, Mrs Alka Chand, Bhupen Mohapatra, both writers, Ms Ashalata Sarangi, B Budha Prasad Rao, both vocalists, Minakhi Behera, Dhruba Charan Biswal, both Odissi exponents.

A souvenir was also released by the RSP CEO and Mrs Manjari Prasad.

The festival was marked by the contemporary choreographic composition by prominent artists like Dr Chandana Raul, from New Delhi and Guru Minakhi Behera, eminent Odissi exponents and Guru Mani Thapa, eminent Kathak and Chhau exponent. The highlight of the evening was the poetic narration of the great Kavi through Odissi dance and the fusion of Kathak and Odissi dance forms.

Earlier, Dr Raul welcomed the gathering and later proposed a vote of thanks. Anil Mallick, was the master of Ceremony.