Silver Gandhi’s Padayatra from Satyabadi to Promote Odia Language and World Odia Language Conference
Satyabadi, 04.02.24 (Report by Singhari Alok Khuntia, Deepti Sundar, Ranjan): For the first time in Odisha, the World Odia Language Conference 2024 is being organized. The event, scheduled from February 3 to 5, aims to promote the Odia language and the conference itself. As part of the awareness campaign, actor Mohan Mahapatra, known for portraying Silver Gandhi, is undertaking a symbolic padayatra.
Shri Mahapatra had earlier gained attention by walking from Puri to Delhi during the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and has also promoted various welfare programs of the state government across rural areas dressed as Gandhi. His efforts have earned him recognition and honors from both the state and central governments.
Today, at 10 AM, as part of this campaign, he visited the memorial site of the Panchasakha (Five Friends) at Sakhigopal, offering floral tributes at their samadhi (memorials). He expressed that the contribution of the Panchasakha to the Odia language is unparalleled and described the establishment of the Odia University in memory of Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das as a fitting tribute. He also visited the newly built World Odia University and praised the state government for this high-level initiative.
In the Satyabadi region, women, youth, and volunteers joined him in the slogan “Ame Odia, Ama Bhasha Badhia” (“We are Odia, Our Language is Great”) and walked along with him up to the Sakhigopal Temple. After offering prayers there, he continued his journey towards Bhubaneswar.
In front of the Sakhigopal Temple, pilgrims from other states who saw Mohan Mahapatra dressed as Gandhi greeted him with garlands and bowed in respect, chanting slogans like “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” (Victory to Mother India).
