Minister Pradhan hails Bidyutprabha Devi's immense contribution to enriching Odia literature
'When one speaks of feminist voices in Odia poetry, her name stands tall. She is a true symbol of women's empowerment and her writings continue to guide and inspire us. In this age of Artificial Intelligence, we must use technology to promote and expand the reach of Odia literature to a global audience,' he said. Eminent writer Pratibha Ray, who attended as the guest of honour, said Bidyutprabha Devi was an exceptional poet. 'Her works enriched Odia literature significantly. Her poetry, rooted in feminism and socialism, evokes deep emotional resonance,' she said.
Speaking on the occasion, Culture minister Suryabanshi Suraj said women play a crucial role in achieving the vision of Viksit Odisha-2036 and Viksit Bharat-2047. A painting workshop based on the life and legacy of Bidyutprabha Devi was inaugurated by Pradhan on the occasion. Among others, son of Bidyutprabha Devi and former V-C of Central University Sachidananda Mohanty, Ekamra MLA Babu Singh and secretary of Odisha Sahitya Akademi Chandrasekhar Hota were present.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
3 hours ago
- Mint
The Air India catastrophe should catalyse deep structural reform in the country
Next Story Vikas Dimble , Prachi Mishra The aviation tragedy in Ahmedabad calls for economic introspection. India needs to ponder questions of public versus private ownership, market concentration versus competition and diversified versus focused conglomerates. Our take-off for Viksit Bharat may depend on getting the answers right. The Ahmedabad tragedy should serve as more than a moment of grief, it should catalyse the deeper structural reforms necessary for India's sustainable development. Gift this article The tragic Ahmedabad air crash shook the nation, but beyond the immediate grief lies a deeper call for introspection. This isn't about assigning blame, but rather about examining structural questions. The tragic Ahmedabad air crash shook the nation, but beyond the immediate grief lies a deeper call for introspection. This isn't about assigning blame, but rather about examining structural questions. The timing is significant—this accident occurred soon after Air India transitioned from public to private ownership, highlighting three fundamental challenges on India's runway toward developed nation status: How should we balance public and private sector roles? What is the optimal level of market concentration versus competition? And should India Inc embrace specialization or continue with diversified conglomerates that span multiple industries? These questions go beyond aviation, touching the very foundation of India's economic strategy. Yet, aviation provides a perfect case study for examining these broader challenges. Let us start with the public versus public ownership. Also Read: Digital twins of aircraft: A big leap for civil aviation? India is conspicuous with a disproportionately large public sector, compared to other emerging and advanced economies. India's stock market is heavily dominated by state-owned enterprises. But our aviation sector, which has undergone complete privatization, offers a contrast. Globally, aviation ownership models vary dramatically. West Asian carriers remain fully government-owned, Chinese airlines are government-dominated and some European carriers maintain partial government stakes—25% of British Airways' parent company, for instance, is owned by Qatar Airways. Meanwhile, the US mirrors India's approach of minimal government ownership. The privatization of Air India is considered one of the Indian government's most successful divestments. As the private sector takes control, the need for robust regulation becomes critical. The question is not a binary whether or not to privatize, but how to regulate businesses effectively, especially in industries where lives are at stake. The government's role must evolve from owner-operator to an ever more vigilant regulator in both public perception and reality. Also Read: A tale of two sectors: Aviation soars while railways crawl Coming to the dilemma of competition versus concentration, India's economy has long been marked by the outsized influence of family-owned business groups. Remarkably, several of the largest groups from the 1950s still dominate, with the composition of the top 25 largely unchanged since 2010. At their peak in 2012, these groups generated revenues equivalent to 20% of India's GDP. While their dominance has declined somewhat since then, in 2020 that figure was still over 15%—higher than in 2001. The aviation sector typifies these trends. In India, the combined market share of its top two airlines is larger than in other markets globally, far exceeding the share seen in the US, UK, China or Brazil. IndiGo and Air India, both privately owned, carried over 90% of air travellers last year. The US airline industry is also privately owned but its market has much more competition. While larger firms benefit from economies of scale and greater clout, extreme concentration can also stifle innovation and harm consumer interests. Indian policymakers have been on top of this challenge. The sector has been opened to fresh competition repeatedly, but the industry has shown high business mortality, with a long list of airlines declared bankrupt or close to it; Sahara, Jet Airways, SpiceJet, Kingfisher and Go First tell a sobering tale of a harsh market. Why has competition withered in this sector? Is market size the determining factor (America's air traffic is five times that of India), or are there policy or market failures? Cost and efficiency determine survival, but consumer choices matter. Notably, both Air India and IndiGo rank low in global service standards. The transition from a state monopoly to private oligopoly outlines a delicate balance. While India needs stronger regulation in critical sectors, the broader economic imperative often calls for less onerous regulation; theEconomic Survey highlighted calls for greater deregulation and for government to get 'out of the way." Coming to the third issue of specialization versus diversification, economic theory suggests that countries should specialize in industries where they have comparative advantage. We can illustrate this through Bollywood: If Shah Rukh Khan, an economics graduate, specialized in economics, he would have been a successful economist. But even if he were to become the world's best economist, his 'opportunity cost' of missing a career as an actor would be too high, given the low wages he would earn compared to his earnings from cinema. Even with an absolute advantage in economics, his comparative advantage would lie in cinema. Specialization versus diversification represents a distinct strategic choice from concentration versus competition. Firms can maintain high market concentration while remaining either specialized or diversified. The jury is certainly out on this. Global trends reveal fascinating patterns. While emerging-market conglomerates are increasingly diversifying, those in advanced economies, particularly the US, are moving towards specialization. Emerging-market giants like the Tata Group in India (spanning salt to aviation), Samsung in South Korea and Fosun in China have expanded their sectoral reach dramatically, often doubling or tripling their presence across industries. Conversely, developed-market leaders like General Electric, Siemens and Johnson & Johnson have undergone significant consolidation or strategic splits. Most now operate as publicly traded entities with focused business models. So what is the path forward? What does it imply for India's aviation landscape—a three-way combination of private ownership, extreme concentration and the diversified nature of controlling conglomerates? This combination makes the sector distinctive globally but also potentially vulnerable. The stakes couldn't be higher. Markets often face efficiency versus equity trade-offs. Beyond that, there are efficiency and public safety trade-offs, at least in perception. Ultimately, there are no concrete recipes for success. That said, these questions are pertinent. As India marches towards Viksit Bharat, we must find appropriate answers. Our aviation sector's future—and by extension our broader economic strategy—depends on getting many balances right. The Ahmedabad tragedy should serve as more than a moment of grief. It should catalyse the deeper structural reforms necessary for India's sustainable development. Only through such introspection can we build an economy that is both dynamic and safe, competitive and responsible. The authors are, respectively, operations director, Ashoka Isaac Center for Public Policy (ICPP); and professor of economics, and director of ICPP, Ashoka University. Topics You May Be Interested In Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Warm welcome to Her Excellency
1 2 3 Today, Her Excellency President Droupadi Murmu comes to her home state of Odisha . I extend a heartfelt welcome to this extraordinary personality of India to the sacred land of Odisha. As I greet her on behalf of 4.5 crore Odias, my heart overflows with joy and pride, not just as a citizen, but as a younger brother welcoming his beloved elder sister. It is a matter of immense pride and honour for every Odia that a daughter of our soil has become the 15th President of India . But President Murmu's identity is truly unique among her predecessors. As the first tribal woman to occupy the highest constitutional post in the country, her election marked not only a historic moment for Odisha, but a moment of celebration for the entire nation, especially for the tribal communities, women, the underprivileged, and the marginalised. Droupadi Ji's family background and social life had fascinated the people across India. Marking an incredible journey from Rairangpur to Raisina Hills, she proves that a person, who is at the bottom of the social and economic system, can rise to occupy the highest constitutional office of the country. This is the strength of India's democracy. Obliviously, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a key role in her selection as the presidential candidate. 'Purvodaya' is Modi Ji's vision. It can be said without a doubt that by nominating Droupadi Ji from Odisha as the presidential candidate, Modi Ji succeeded in creating a suitable atmosphere to successfully achieve his priorities of development and prosperity across the country. In 2000, I was elected as an MLA. Droupadi Ji was serving as a minister in the Odisha govt then. During the aggressive stance of the opposition in the assembly, she always had the ability to silence the opposition by giving calm, simple, polite yet firm and logical answers. Today, when Droupadi Ji arrives in Odisha, I feel very happy as a tribal. I have experienced poverty and also managed to withstand it. Her Excellency is an inspiration for me to work more diligently and systematically for the tribals and the poor of the state. I have given strict instructions to all concerned to ensure that Her Excellency's visit to Odisha remains a successful one. There is no doubt that during her visit, the people of Odisha will accord her a warm welcome. Jai Jagannath! (The writer is the chief minister of Odisha)
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Proud moment': Sadanandan Master pledges to work for 'Viksit Kerala' after Rajya Sabha nomination
Calling it a proud moment, veteran social worker and educationist C. Sadanandan Master on Sunday pledged to work harder to help realise the Union government's vision of a "Viksit Kerala," following his nomination to the Rajya Sabha by the President. Sadanandan Master has vowed to improve their lives and boost their morale. Master, who has decades of grassroots service in Kerala, said that the political climate under the ruling Left government has been challenging for BJP workers. He vowed to improve their lives and boost their morale. "This is a proud moment because the party has shown its confidence and trust in me. This is very important in the context of Kerala politics. The party is now promoting the idea of Viksit Kerala and Viksit Bharat. To help realise this vision, I must work even harder," he said. Also Read: Mumbai blasts lawyer, ex foreign secretary among 4 new nominees to Rajya Sabha "In Kerala, we have faced many atrocities from political opponents, especially in the Kannur district. Many karyakartas have sacrificed their lives for the party. Their families are suffering today. It is my duty to uplift them and restore their confidence," he added. Master, along with Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Deorao Nikam, former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, and historian Meenakshi Jain, was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India, recognising excellence in public service and scholarship. These nominations were made under the powers conferred by Article 80(1)(a) of the Constitution, read with clause (3). They come following the retirement of previously nominated members. The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the nominations through an official notification. The appointments are seen as recognition of outstanding national contributions in the fields of law, diplomacy, social service, and historical research. Following the announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Master, describing his life as the "epitome" of courage and resilience. "Shri C. Sadanandan Master's life is the epitome of courage and refusal to bow to injustice. Violence and intimidation couldn't deter his spirit toward national development. His efforts as a teacher and social worker are commendable. He is deeply passionate about youth empowerment. Congratulations to him on being nominated to the Rajya Sabha by Rashtrapati Ji. Best wishes for his role as MP," PM Modi said.
