GLOBAL TIMES NEWS | SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 , BHUBANESWAR: A state-level birth anniversary celebration of eminent Odia poet Kabi Bar Radhanath Ray was held at Geeta Govinda Sadan in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, bringing together writers, scholars, editors and literary organisations to reflect on his enduring contribution to Odia literature and cultural identity.
The programme was organised by the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture in association with the Odisha Sahitya Akademi and the Kabibar Sahitya O Seva Pratisthan. A literary gathering and discussion session were also organised as part of the commemorative programme.
Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, who attended the event as chief guest, spoke about Radhanath Ray’s literary journey and his body of work. He described the poet’s contribution as a continuing source of inspiration and urged young writers to draw lessons from his life and literary ideals.
The minister highlighted the distinctive blend of Odishan identity and Indian consciousness visible in Radhanath Ray’s writings. Through his poetry, the poet gave powerful expression to Odia identity while connecting local experience with wider human and universal themes.
“Radhanath Ray brought vitality into the inanimate and connected the seemingly insignificant with the wider world,” the minister said, while paying tribute to the celebrated poet. He also expressed hope that Ray’s literary works would continue to serve as a source of direction and inspiration for future generations.
A discussion titled “Literature in Newspapers: Yesterday and Today” was another major feature of the programme. Founder and former editor of Sambad Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Prameya editor Gopal Krishna Mahapatra, Subarta editor Pradyumna Satapathy, noted literary figure Prof. Dr Adikanda Sahu, writer Prof. Dr Sanghamitra Mishra and Utkal Sahitya Samaj general secretary Rajib Kumar Sadangi participated in the discussion.
The session examined the changing relationship between newspapers and literature and the role of print media in nurturing literary expression and public engagement.
Odisha Sahitya Akademi Secretary Dr Chandrasekhar Hota, Kabibar Sahitya O Seva Pratisthan Secretary Deb Narayan Sethi, president Gopinath Barik, and noted writer and researcher Dr Aravinda Giri, among others, attended the programme.
The commemoration served as a platform to revisit Radhanath Ray’s literary legacy and discuss the continuing relevance of his works in contemporary Odia cultural and literary life.
#RadhanathRay #OdiaLiterature #OdishaCulture #OdiaLanguage #SuryabanshiSuraj #OdishaSahityaAkademi #Literature #OdishaNews