SOA Literary Festival beginning tomorrow to discuss contemporary trends in Indian literature

Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: Scores of eminent litterateurs from different parts of the country are coming to be congregated at the first edition of SOA Literary Festival scheduled to start here tomorrow. The two-day literary fiesta is being hosted for the first time by the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University, a front-ranking university in the country, to facilitate the interface between eminent authors, story tellers, poets, commentators, historians, critics and translators, both young and old, and further the cause of Indian literature. The event, which bears the tagline ‘Celebration of Words and Ideas’, will offer a single platform to discuss the contemporary trends in Indian literature and will also focus on the rich literary and cultural legacy of Odisha. The fest will be held at SOA campus 2 auditorium adjacent to SUM Hospital here. “SOA believes that though Science and Technology are tools through which modern society’s progress is made possible, it should be done in an atmosphere fragrant with art, culture and literature,” the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. R.K.Chauhan said. The SOA Centre for Preservation, Propagation and Restoration of Ancient Culture and Heritage of India (PPRACHIN), a SOA initiative aiming at preservation, propagation and restoration of the country’s rich heritage and culture, is organizing the event. PPRACHIN’s main thrust is to make a variety of publications, conduct research, take up digitalization, organize workshops, seminars and conferences to provide an understanding and appreciation of the philosophy, aesthetics and beauty inherent in Indian art, literature and culture, its Head, Dr. Gayatribala Panda said. The literary figures expected to participate in the festival include Dr. Vasdev Mohi, eminent Sindhi poet who has been conferred with the prestigious Saraswati Samman this year, Dr. Sitanshu Yashaschandra, Dr. Jayanta Mohapatra, Dr. Pratibha Ray, Dr. Ramakant Rath, Dr. Sitakanta Mahapatra, Dr. Vikram Sampath, Ms. Chitra Mudgal, Dr. Dnyaneshwar Mulay, Mr. H.S. Shivaprakash,  Mr. Jayant Parmar, Mr. Ashok Maheshwari, Mr. Arun Kamal, Mr. Brajendra Tripathi, Dr. Rita Nath Keshari, Dr. Ranu Unyal, Mr. A.J.Thomas, Mr. Udayan Vajpeyi, Mr. Amandeep Sandhu, Mr. Rajendra Kishore Panda, Dr. Soubhagya Kumar Mishra, Mr. Kuldeep Kumar, Ms. Yashodhara Ray Choudhury, Mr. Haraprasad Das, Ms. K.R.Meera, Mr. Nirmal Kanti Bhattacharjee  and Dr. Rajendra Prasad Mishra. The event which will have 26 sessions spread over the two days, will also feature Odia film personalities like Mr. Sabyasachi Mohapatra, Ms. Anu Choudhury, Mr. Akash Das Nayak and Mr. Akhyay Parija, Dr. Panda said.