National symposium on Indian Literature in Translation held
Noted writer and former bureaucrat Hrusikesh Panda delivered the inaugural address and chaired the first academic session, while academician and principal Lipipuspa Nayak, programme officer of Sahitya Akademi Avishek Rath, and academician and writer Anil Kumar Parhi also spoke in the inaugural session.
On the occasion, Nayak was felicitated with the Sahitya Shiromani Award for her contributions to translation. Odia writer Santanu Kumar Acharya and poets Jayashree Nanda and Pranamita Pati joined the valedictory session.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Review of The Great Épinal Escape by Ghee Bowman
I'd never heard of these POWs before — all those Great Escapes & never a brown face among them.' This line in the Epilogue of Ghee Bowman's The Great Épinal Escape perfectly expresses a reader's state after finishing the book. The tale of over 500 Indian prisoners of war escaping from a German camp during World War II has lain buried in various archives and libraries until unearthed and excavated by the historian and author. But this book is more than just a story of an escape. Theatres of action Bowman opens with an overview of 'an army in transition, from a country in transition' in which he sketches the reasons for young men to join the army and the impact of India's freedom movement on recruitment. He moves across the various theatres of action to show how widely spread the Indian soldiers were across Europe and Africa, and how many were taken as prisoners by the Germans. Even before he gets to the great escape, Bowman showcases characters such as Shriniwas Raghavendra Kulkarni, a clerk in the Mobile Workshop Company of the Ordnance Corps, who was captured in June 1942 in North Africa. He escapes, is captured, escapes again, hides in an Arab village, disguises himself as an Arab, trudges across Italy and finally falls in with New Zealand troops. A performance that was awarded the Indian Order of Merit. But not all prisoners were as lucky. Bowman offers a detailed account of the life of a PoW in a German camp with extracts from letters written by the men. As Havildar R.P. Shirke of the Postal Service writes: 'It seemed that Man had jumped from the civilised 20th century back to the Stone Age …' The escape The second part of the book is devoted to the escape. On May 11, 1944, American planes dropped bombs in Épinal in northeastern France to destroy the railway lines. With some bombs falling on a PoW camp and destroying its walls, the prisoners took the opportunity to grab 'everything we could by way of food, blankets etc ...' and escape. When you stop to think about this, it boggles the mind. Strangers in France, not knowing the language or customs, visibly different from the locals, without money or any papers... yet they did not hesitate. There's a heart-warming incident of two soldiers returning to the camp to rescue a friend before continuing on their way to freedom. In this, the attitude of the French also played a big role: whether it was feeding the escapees, hiding them, guiding them in the right direction, and hoodwinking the Germans. Yet things could get complicated, given the nature of the Swiss border, which meandered into France and Germany. Bowman narrates one story of a group of prisoners who lost their way and returned to the farm they had been sent on from. Once in Switzerland, they were free but it was of a limited nature. Bowman writes about the racism — overt and covert — with which the Indians were treated and of their return to India. The Epilogue looks at what the Épinalepisode had done to the men. Bowman also points out that while those who fought in the Indian National Army are being feted, those who served in the British army are 'not well remembered. They should be. They are no less worthy of record than the Americans and Britishers at Colditz and Stalag Luft III. For the sake of their families, and to set right the historical record, their stories should be told and retold'. The Great Épinal Escape: Indian Prisoners of War in German Hands Ghee Bowman Context ₹699 krithika.r@
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Maa Mangala Temple committee preserves traditions during festival
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Just 2 km from Sri Jagannath Temple, the Maa Mangala Temple in Sailashree Vihar stands as a beacon of devotion and tradition. This sacred site transforms into the Sri Gundicha Temple during the annual Rath Yatra, hosting the revered holy trinity for nine days before their return journey to their sanctum sanctorum on the day of Bahuda Yatra. The Maa Mangala Temple Committee, a dedicated group of devotees, meets all expenses during the deities' stay. "The committee members play a significant role in ensuring all the rituals are followed meticulously at the temple," said Gopal Patnaik, secretary of Sri Jagannath Trust. Their commitment to preserving the sanctity and spirit of the festival is evident in the vibrant 'bhajan sandhyas' they organise every evening. These devotional gatherings see a large turnout, predominantly women, who come together to sing praises and immerse themselves in the divine atmosphere. In addition to spiritual nourishment, the committee ensures that physical sustenance is provided to all who visit the temple to have a glimpse of the deities. Every day, they prepare and serve 'bhoga', a sacred offering, to 400 devotees. The menu, a delightful array of traditional Odia dishes, includes 'arna', 'dalma', 'khiri' and 'khata', each prepared with love and devotion. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tinnitus: what this grandson discovered will surprise you Hearing Magazine Undo The temple priests, led by chief priest K C Panda, play a crucial role in maintaining the religious rigour of the festival. They meticulously perform all rituals, from Banaka Lagi to Adapa Abhada Bhoga, ensuring that every aspect of the deities' stay is conducted with precision and reverence. "From Bhoga Mandap Puja to Jatrangi Mahasnana, we try to replicate all rituals at our temple, which are performed at the Sri Gundicha Temple in Puri. Devotees came in large numbers from the nearby areas to the temple through these nine days," said Panda, the chief priest. The location of the Maa Mangala Temple at Sailashree Vihar adds another layer of significance to its role as the Sri Gundicha Temple. Uniquely positioned, it mirrors the spiritual journey of the deities in Puri. On the return journey, the deities make a symbolic stop at the Maa Tarini Temple, akin to the Maushi Maa Temple in Puri, where they partake their favourite 'poda pitha', a traditional baked delicacy. This harmonious blend of devotion, tradition, and community brings unity among the devotees. As the lords prepare to return to their abode, the temple stands as a testament to the enduring faith and dedication of those who keep these age-old traditions alive, ensuring that the divine presence continues to bless the land and its people.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Patiagada Gopinath Deb Temple becomes most happening place during Rath Yatra
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Patiagada, a culturally-rich village in the city, uses Gopinath Deb Temple at Dolamandap Sahi as Gundicha Temple for the Rath Yatra. The sibling deities stay at this temple for nine days, and people celebrate the Rath Yatra by organising cultural evenings from Rath Yatra to Bahuda. Folk and classical dances are performed near this temple during this period. "We stage bhajan (Odia devotional songs), sankirtan, Gotipua dance, Odissi dance, Sambalpuri folk dance, chaiti ghoda dance, and giti natya from the day of Rath Yatra to a day before Bahuda," said Benudhar Rout, managing trustee, Sri Gundicha Ghar Gopinath Deb Mandir Trust. Rout said Rath Yatra in his village was stopped after 1932. Later, the villagers revived it in 2010. Like earlier, the newly-constructed chariot rolls from Jagannath Temple to Gopinath Deb Temple in the village, he added. He said this Gopinath Deb Temple was used as Gundicha Temple before 1932 too. "At that time, villagers were bringing teak from the Patia forest to construct chariots for the sibling deities. Now the forest is nowhere to be seen. I heard this from my father and grandfather. We are happy that we are continuing this rich tradition," he added. Rout said Gopinath Deb Temple was built by the king of Patiagada. "We renovated it with the help of villagers. The renovation was completed in November 2014," he added. He said they always try to rope in folk dance, classical dance, and Odia bhajan performers to patronise Odia culture. "People enjoy the moment after the revival of Rath Yatra since 2010 in the village. Villagers even provide rice and other materials to make prasad for devotees on the day of Rath Yatra," he added. Kishore Chandra Paikaray, a villager, said the Gopinath Deb Temple is an old temple like Jagannath Temple of Patiagada. "While renovating, we have not changed any structure of the temple. We have used the old stones for the construction of the main structure of the temple," he added.
