Bhubaneswar, Dec, 26: The 150th birth anniversary of Mahanga’s distinguished son, rural poet Nand Kishore Bal, was celebrated. The event, organized jointly by the Odisha Sahitya Academy and Mahanga Development Council, discussed Bal’s literary works, highlighting how he transformed ordinary life stories into written narratives and established his own distinct literary identity.
The program was held at Nand Kishore Vidya Mandir, his birthplace in Kusupur. Prominent poets, literary figures, social workers, and public representatives paid tribute at the poet’s statue on the school premises. During the Saraswati ceremony organized at the school, Mahanga MLA Sarada Prasad presided.
The chief guest was former minister Amar Prasad Satapathy. The keynote speaker was literary scholar Dr. Bhagabat Shukla, while eminent speaker Dr. Basant Kumar Sahu emphasized that Nand Kishore Bal’s literary works have enriched Odia literature. Sanjay Kumar Chual Singh, Associate Director of Odisha Sahitya Academy, conducted the program, while BEO Monalisa Sarkar introduced the guests.
The event was attended by Jitendra Satapathy, Bhaktacharan Pai, Amarendra Singh, Manoranjan Nayak, Kishore Raut, Manoranjan Bishwal, Arun Sethi, Nirmal Raut, Kanakalata Behera, Sharada Jena, Prabhas Barma, Bishwaprakash Prusti, Upendra Sahu, Sheshadev Sahu, Padmalochan Nayak, Mahendra Behera, Kamalakanta Pradhan, Dhrubacharan Samal, Subodh Behera, Umesh Das, along with teachers and students of the school. On this occasion, outstanding students of the school were felicitated by the guests.