Bhubaneswar: The Odia Bhagavata, written by the Sant-poet Atibadi Jagannath Das, has profoundly influenced Odisha’s socio-cultural, spiritual, and literary landscape for centuries. Scholars and speakers emphasized its enduring messages of harmony, devotion, and moral conduct during the Annual Function and Youth Literary Conference organized by the Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad, Odisha, in celebration of Jagannath Das’s Jayanti.
Held at the Regional Institute of Education auditorium in Bhubaneswar, the event was inaugurated by the esteemed Sant Shrimad Sanat Sujatananda Das Maharaj. He reflected on the historical significance of Bhagavata Tungis—traditional community centers in Odia villages—where residents would gather for justice, food security, self-reliance, and spiritual growth.
“Every village had a Bhagavata Tungi, a place where people congregated in the evenings after a long day to listen to and recite the Bhagavata,” he shared. “The text was revered as a son, and its recitation was believed to bring the presence of Dharma. These Tungis were also a source of inspiration for Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of Gram Swaraj.”
He further noted that during those times, there were no conflicts between Aryan and Dravidian identities, as spiritual unity prevailed through the Bhagavata tradition. He highlighted the unique lyrical beauty of phrases such as “Govinda, Govinda, Govinda,” which encapsulate the devotional essence of the text.
“The Bhagavata ignites compassion in the human heart. When we genuinely feel the suffering of others, that is the impact of engaging with the Bhagavata,” he remarked. He cited the life of Pandit Gopabandhu Das, explaining how the revered leader adopted the spirit of service and sacrifice from his childhood experiences with the Bhagavata, maintaining his daily recitation even amidst a busy public life. “That constant connection with the Bhagavata immortalized him,” he stated.
The conference featured several distinguished academicians and writers, including Dr. Abhay Kumar Nayak, President of the Parishad; Dr. Santosh Kumar Mahapatra, General Secretary; Narayan Nayak, Organizing Secretary; Dr. Satya Narayan Acharya, Professor at Tirupati Central Sanskrit University; Dr. Dillip Kumar Swain, Head of Odia Department at Samant Chandra Sekhar College; Dr. Kalpataru Nayak, Head of Odia Department at Baudh Model Degree College; and renowned litterateur Arun Kumar Sahu. Discussions focused on the lasting literary significance of Jagannath Das’s Bhagavata, its role in shaping Odia identity, and the importance of youth writers for nation-building.
Speakers unanimously regarded Atibadi Jagannath Das as one of the greatest figures in Odia literature and advocated for his Jayanti to be recognized globally as World Book Day.
The program was anchored by Pratibha Priyadarshini, Dr. Raghunath Ojha, Dr Anup Kumar Martha, and Venkata Balaji Vishwanath Shatapathi. On this occasion, Dr Nirod Kumar Mantri was honored with the Yuva Pratibha Samman, while Prof. Jharna Nath received the Yuva Saurabh Samman.
Several significant publications were launched during the event, including the Parishad’s journal Dig Digant, Chikitsa Manjari by Gopinath Shadangi, History of Modern Odia Literature by Dr Nirod Kumar Mantri, and poetry collections by poet Bipin Bihari Raut.
Further enriching the event, 20 young researchers presented their papers, while nearly 200 young writers, poets, essayists, columnists, and scholars from across Odisha participated in the conference, creating a vibrant confluence of literary and cultural dialogue.
