Legacy of Sarat Kar Commemorated Through Awards and Scholarly Discourse

Prominent public intellectual and academician Dash Benhur delivered a compelling discourse on the "Absence of Intellectuals in Contemporaneous Politics in India" at the second Sarat Kumar Kar Memorial Lecture, held at Gita Govinda Sadan in Bhubaneswar. The event, a tribute to the late leader's legacy, brought together a distinguished gathering of political figures, academics, and cultural personalities.

Organized by the Sarat Kar & Anima Kar Foundation and presided over by Co-Chairperson Suman Kar, the evening served as a platform to celebrate both established wisdom and emerging talent. Prafulla Chandra Ghadei, former minister and the event's Chief Guest, reflected on the significant life and contributions of Sarat Kumar Kar, setting a commemorative tone for the proceedings.

A central feature of the event was the presentation of the foundation's annual awards. Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Sujeet Kumar was honored with the Sarat Kumar Kar Memorial Award for Best Young Parliamentarian. The Rajat Kumar Kar Memorial Award for Best Young Cultural Personality was conferred upon researcher and poet Arun Kumar Tripathy. In the field of music, acclaimed vocalist Sohini Mishra received the Anima Kar Memorial Award for Best Young Playback Singer.

The foundation also unveiled three new books—two in Odia and one in English—felicitating authors Prof. Bijay Kumar Mishra, Dr. Dilip Lenka, Shri Uchhaba Mohapatra, and Smt. Sudipta Mishra for their literary contributions.

The memorial lecture drew an eminent audience, including former ministers Niranjan Patnaik and Amar Prasad Satpathy, Odisha State Finance Commission Chairman Dr. Arun Panda, and Kalinga Literary Festival founder Ashok Bal. The presence of numerous leaders, bureaucrats, and admirers from across Odisha underscored the enduring respect for Sarat Kumar Kar. The event was seamlessly coordinated by Abani Chandra Das, editor of "Nirvika," a publication founded by Kar in 1958.