Mukta Kalama ,” Odia weekly, celebrates 29th ‘Swa-nakhatra diwas’ , calls to safeguard truth and transparency in reports
Bhubaneswar: Odia weekly, Mukta Kalama, celebrated its 29th ‘Swa-nakhatra diwas ‘ function at Buddha Mandir in the city recently.
Speakers assembled at the function called upon the media people to continue to highlight the truth with transparency in their reports for a better society.
The mission should go ahead, despite all challenges being faced by the media for their survival, they said.
They too shared views and stressed that the government should take a serious note of the plight of the media people and media houses, mostly in small and medium sectors, and extend support for their survival as well as for the society.
Noted Odia Linguist, Padmashree, Debi Prasanna Patnaik said the Odia weekly, while focusing on its prime objective, should simultaneously take care to enrich the mother tongue, Odia language.
Patnaik, who attended the function as the chief guest, in his brief speech, also wished a long journey for the week.
Retired chief commissioner of Income tax, Sarat Das and former minister, Arabinda Dhali, in their address, hoped that the media would continue its journey and remain people’s voice despite several ups and downs being faced in their day-to-day lives.
They too wished fora bright future of the Odia weekly.
Editor of Odia daily, Biswabani, Arjuna Muduli, said it would be a challenge to run a media house in the absence of proper government support. He said media houses and media people from cross section should raise and press their common plight and demand before the government for survival.
Founder editor of the weekly, Gyana Ranjan Das, in his welcome address, narrated his struggle for survival of the daily .
He expressed hope for the government’s support and sought people’s love and blessing for his weekly.
A research scholar, Suniti Mund, Senior Journalist Sanat Mishra, P Prasad Rao and Siraj Mohammad, among others, addressed the function. A senior journalist, Balakrishna Patnaik, proposed a vote of thanks.
Anusuya Sahu coordinated the programme. Rajat Mohapatra from Odia daily, Anupam Bharat, editor of ‘ Tikhna Drusti’ , Santosh Senapati, journalist,t Balakrishna Patnaik and Pankajini Behera of ‘Biswa Bani’ daily also gave active support for the success of the programme.
The guests on the occasion released a special issue of the weekly.
The programme began with lord Jagannatha’s bhajan, and also witnessed an Odishi dance programme of a group of students.
The weekly on this occasion also honoured 22 people for their successful journey in different fields.
They include Saroj Kumar Patnaik, an engineer, Girija Nandini Pati, an engineer, Pabitra Kumar Swain, Manas Ranjan Panda, Prabhat Kumar Rout, Bijoya Das, Swagatika Sethi, Amit Kumar Nayak, Pritam Kumar, Swapna Bijoyni, Gautam Behera, Rajiv Lochan Panda, Sanjay Panda, Chandan Jena, Pallavi Patnaik, Hrudananda Sahu and Siraj Mohammad.