Sambalpur: Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders Pranab Prakash Das and Rohit Pujari met eminent poet, musician, lyricist and dramatist Padma Shri Binod Kumar Pashayat at Sambalpur on Thursday.
While BJD’s organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das is the ruling party’s candidate for Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat, Rohit Punari has been fielded in Sambalpur Assembly segment.
Ahead of the elections, both the leaders took out time and visited the house of Pashayat and greeted him on being conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri. They also enquired about his health condition.
Hailing the contribution made by Pasayat towards enriching Odia culture, literature and music, the two leaders told him that his dedication and contribution to literature will be remembered forever.
Author of 12 plays, Pasayat is a hair-dresser by profession. Pasayat was presented Padma Shri for his contribution to Koshali (Sambalpuri) literature. Pasayat started his literary career in Sambalpur and rose to fame with the famous Sambalpuri play, ‘Mui Nai Mare’ (I will never die).
He has written many hit Sambalpuri numbers, including songs for Odia films ‘Samarpan’, ‘Adivasi’ and ‘Para Stri’. The 88-year-old has also written about 12 Sambalpuri dramas, including Ukhi, Mui Nai Mare, Lita, Chinha and Bharna. His Sambalpuri numbers ‘Ae Nani Sulochana’, ‘Rathar Chaka Chale Ghidighidi’, ‘Bajuche Madala Ae Baula’, ‘Hai Krushna Haie Krushana Boli’ are all-time hits.
