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Museum in memoray of Upendra Bhanja sought

Staff Reporter

According to the Bhanja Sahitya Parishad secretary, the State Government is yet to make proper arrangements to keep alive memory of the great poet

BERHAMPUR: Demands are on for the establishment of a museum in memory of great Oriya poet Upendra Bhanja at his birth place at Kulada in Ganjam district.

Bhanja Sahitya Parishad of Bhanjanagar, which was established in 1944 and still continues to popularise Bhanja in Orissa, has urged the State Government to consider the poet an idol of Orissan art and culture to establish a museum in his memory at his birth place.

`Bhanja Sena', an organisation of youths of Bhanjanagar trying to popularise the writings of Bhanja, has decided to take up agitation if the government does not meet their demand. According to secretary of the parishad Umakanta Mishra, the government is yet to make proper arrangements to keep alive memory of the great poet. Historians are yet to fix the birth date of this great poet and three celebrations are held in the State on different dates by different organisations to mark his probable birth anniversary. The parishad is still searching for unpublished manuscripts of Bhanja. Recently two newly discovered creations of this poet, `Shobhavati' and 'Rasalekha were published.

Lifeblood

Creations of Bhanja are lifeblood of Odissi dance and music. Bhanja was considered a saviour of Oriya language and culture as during the British era writings of Bhanja had to be quoted before the British empire to prove that Oriya was a separate language, which led to the establishment of Orissa state on linguistic basis.

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