Two-day Utsav Odisha event concludes

Bhubaneswar: The two-day Utsav Odisha, a festival on culture and national integration, organised by Utkal University and the Institute of Media Studies, ended with a closing ceremony here on Saturday.

Vice-chancellor of Utkal University Prof Sabita Acharya said every Odia must take pride in its heritage as the state moves forward on the path of development.

Speaking on the occasion writer and former additional chief secretary to Govt. of Gujarat Dr SK Nanda said, “India, the nation with diverse culture has so many things which it can contribute to the world.” On the significance of a united country, he said Odisha has much to teach the world on the concept of unity which begins with the family structure.

Also read: Utsav Odisha kicks off at Utkal University

Registrar Dr Avaya Kumar Nayak and director of IMS Prof Upendra Padhi also spoke. Director of Students’ Welfare of the university Prof Mithali Chinara coordinated the closing ceremony. On the occasion, winners of different competitions were also awarded.

Earlier on the day, fourth and fifth plenary sessions on ‘New India: Colonial Mindset & Beyond’ and ‘Bharat Youth Dialogue – Be the Change’ were organised. Joint secretary, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, Uma Nanduri attended the fourth session and asked students to shed all traces of colonial mindset, take pride in roots, stay united and follow duties. She also called for collective national efforts to make India a developed nation. While former dean of English Literature, National Defence Academy Prof Nishamani Kar chaired the session, Professor of History, Ravenshaw University Dr Umakanta Mishra, former Head of English dept., BJB College, Dr Chittaranjan Misra, professor & dean, KIIT School of Language & Literature, Prof Beerendra Pandey and former head of English Dept., SVM College, Jagatsingpur Prof Durgaprasad Acharya addressed the session as theme speakers. Professor of English, RD Women’s University Prof Madhusmita Pati moderated the session.

The Bharat Youth Dialogue session was chaired by writer and secretary of Ama Odisha Swaraj Mishra where four student speakers of the university Tapasi Padhi, Gargi Mandal, Sandeep Sekhar Nayak and Amiya Kumar Mishra presented their thoughts and ideas. On Friday, a book titled ‘Utkal: The Land of Excellence’ was released in the inaugural ceremony.