Jagatsinghpur: An exhibition featuring over 519 old copies of newspapers, magazines, periodicals, and newsletters published in Odisha since 1866 was held at Jagatsinghpur book fair in Nabakrushna Choudhury stadium here from January 15-21.
The selected newspapers provided a glimpse into major events of Odisha’s political, social, and economic history as well as major news events during that time.
Visitors had a chance to see and read the first copy of the Odia newspaper ‘Utkal Deepika,’ which was published in 1866 by Gourishankar Ray and Babu Bichitrananda Das, old copies of ‘The Samaj,’ an Odia daily newspaper published in Cuttack since 1919 including outsized old copies of newspapers published in Odisha in the last few decades.
Visitors, especially the young generation were delighted to see such a large collection of newspapers and reading content divulging the social and political life of Odisha at that time.
In his remarks on the visitors’ book, Odisha’s eminent humorous poet Gyana Hota who visited the exhibition wrote that it is a rare opportunity to see all the old and new newspapers on one platform. Well-known Odia film and song lyricist Arun Mantri was equally impressed and praised the endeavour of the organisers.
College and school students and teachers thronged the exhibition. As many as 200 people signed the visitors’ book. The Senior Journalists Association, Odisha a state-level scribe body organised the exhibition after they came to know that one of their members, Benudhar Nayak possesses a huge collection of number old newspapers. “We saw his collection and decided to display the collection at Jagatsinghpur Book Fair. We received an overwhelming response,” informed association vice president Pradipta Kishor Choudhury.
“Newspapers collection is my hobby and passion since I started my journalism career three decades ago. I buy newspapers, magazines, and periodicals regularly and preserve them. Moreover, whenever I am on a tour, I search for papers and collect them. As a result, I have collected about 519 newspapers, magazines, and periodicals showing these cherished collections in our stall,” informed Nayak.
