Bhubaneswar: Writers, poets, literary scholars and poetry enthusiasts honoured the enduring literary legacy of Padma Shri Jayanta Mahapatra, one of India’s most distinguished poets, at the 3rd Jayanta Mahapatra Memorial Lecture on Thursday evening.
The programme, organised by Ketaki Foundation Trust (KFT) at Gita Govinda Sadan Auditorium here, began with an introduction by Rachita Swain, who spoke about the Ketaki Foundation Trust and its commitment to promoting literature, art and culture through memorial lectures, publications and other cultural initiatives.
Rabindra K Swain, poet and Trustee of KFT, delivered the opening remarks, reflecting on Mahapatra’s contribution to Indian English poetry and his lasting influence on the literary landscape.
Distinguished Hindi poet, essayist and writer Dr Udayan Vajpeyi delivered the Memorial lecture, The Tale of Power and Poetry.
Dr Vajpeyi explored how poetry and the arts resist concentration of power by awakening our individual sense of beauty and ethics. He argued that poetry evokes truth rather than communicates it, allowing individual wisdom and perception to challenge the standardisation imposed by the state and corporate forces.
He described Mahapatra as an Odia poet writing in English, whose poetry carries the textures and sensibility of Odisha and Indian civilisation.
Prof. Himansu Mohapatra, eminent writer and translator, was the chief guest.
Prof. Mohapatra’s address focused on a less-discussed aspect of Jayanta Mahapatra’s literary legacy, which was his prose. Prof. Mohapatra drew attention to Mahapatra’s short stories, essays and memoirs, inviting a broader appreciation of his literary imagination and contribution.
A special highlight of the evening was the release of the 22nd issue of Chandrabhaga, the literary magazine founded by Jayanta Mahapatra in 1979.
The magazine has been printed and published by Ketaki Books, a sister organisation of Ketaki Foundation Trust. The cover features beautiful paintings by senior visual artists Lipisree Nayak and Subhendu Mishra. Both artists were felicitated on stage in recognition of their valuable contributions to the publication.
The programme also featured readings by poets Mamata Das, Birendra Nayak, Gouri Sahoo, Jitu Pradhan, Namita Jagdev and Sanjogita Mishra, who recited selected poems by Mahapatra in his memory. The readings brought together voices from the literary community to revisit the poet’s distinctive sensibility and celebrate the enduring resonance of his work.
The entire programme was broadcast live on Facebook, thereby letting a wider audience take take in the celebration of poetry and remembrance of a great poet.