Other States - Orissa   

Literary bodies come under criticism

Correspondent

BHUBANESWAR: As the Oriyas fondly remember the pioneer playwright Padma Shri Gopal Chhortay on his fourth death anniversary on Monday, their pride and sentiments are being hurt by the two State-owned apex literary organisations -- Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, and Orissa Sahitya Akademi.

They find it extremely difficult to believe that even 23 years after he was conferred the coveted central Sahitya Akademi award and three decades after the receipt of the state Akademi award, none of his literary works have been translated into any other Indian languages and into English as well. It has been a policy with the Akademi in New Delhi to translate the Akademi awardee books into 18 Indian languages. And that has been violated in the case of Chhortay.

Chhortay, who was equally adept in translation of literary works besides being the most popular Oriya for his `geetinatyas' (verse theatre), had also the rare distinction of being the recipient of the Central and State Sangeet Natak Akademi awards.

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