Fourth Annual Festival of Delang Children’s Literature Parliament Celebrated
Delang, 08/12 – One of Puri’s prominent children’s literary organizations, the Delang Shishu Kishore Sahitya Sansad, celebrated its fourth annual festival with great enthusiasm and ceremony. The event was officially inaugurated by Gopal Chandra Mahapatra, founder of the children’s magazine Gramya Ramya. The first session featured a poetry recitation festival, in which veteran children’s writer Kunjabihari Sahu participated as the chief guest. Poets and writers including poetess Jyotsna Rani Swain, Adhikari Swain, Digambara Rath, Prashanta Kumar Das, and Siddheswar Behera coordinated the program. A total of 62 poets, including 30 children, recited their poems.
The second session was graced by Dr. Sarat Kumar Bishwal, former Director of the Department of School and Mass Education, as the chief guest. Renowned children’s writer Birendra Mohanty, a recipient of the Bal Sahitya Puraskar by the Sahitya Akademi, also joined as a guest of honor. Other eminent guests included senior children’s writers Bankim Chandra Nayak, Dr. Hemanta Kumar Chhotoray, and Bapin Bihari Dalai. Renowned children’s novelist and writer Prashanta Kumar Mangaraj presided over the session. The annual report was presented by the Parliament’s editor, Lakshmipriya Das.
Several speakers emphasized that children’s literature has the power to help young minds grow into responsible human beings. A call was made to write science-informed children’s literature. As part of the event, the Parliament’s annual magazine Gramya Ramya and Lakshmipriya Das’s short story book Munira Gapa Pedia were unveiled. The book was reviewed by senior writer Smt. Damayanti Mangaraj.
Notable children’s writers such as Bankim Chandra Nayak, Krishna Mahapatra, Prabasini Mishra, Minati Pattnayak, Dilip Dhowdia, Sushanta Kumar Senapati, and Himanshu Shekhar Fatehsingh were felicitated. Likewise, poet Rohit Kumar Champati, student Milan Sahu, Lakshmipriya Jayasingh, Shraddhanjali Palta Singh, and Priyanka Das were also honored for their contributions.
The initiative of the Delang Shishu Kishore Sahitya Sansad to promote children’s literature in rural areas has been widely praised by the public.
