Bhubaneswar: Much of the chaos in the society today can be addressed if people start following the tribal culture and traditions, eminent Santali writer Damayanti Besra said on Sunday.
“The tribals have no dowry system and have respect for women,” Besra, a Padma Shri awardee, said while addressing the 3rd SOA Literary Festival here on its second day.
She further stated that tribals worship Lord Jagannath, who is revered across the state and Odisha’s culture actually follows the tribal way of life. “The tribal communities worship the Trinity comprising Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra,” she said, adding the tradition is followed among the Santals, Kondhs and Sabaras in the state.
She, however, said there was need for promotion of 64 tribal languages saying the Adivasi children were not able to learn the same.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who could not join the festival on the second day as scheduled due to preoccupation, congratulated SOA Deemed to be University for organising the event. “Literature plays a huge role in strengthening culture and creating a nation’s identity. Writers have an equal responsibility in this regard,” Majhi said in a message.
Describing the theme of the festival—‘Culture, Creativity and Artificial Intelligence’—as timely, he congratulated the literary figures participating in the event.
The SOA Yuva Sahitya Purashkar, instituted this year, was presented on the occasion to young writer Suryasnata Tripathy for his collection of short stories titled ‘Thia Puchi Naranga’.
Saswati Das, Vice-President of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA), presented the award, comprising a silver plaque, a citation, a shawl and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, to Tripathy.
In his acceptance speech, Tripathy said “There is a need for extricating ourselves from the cycle of jealousy, pride and self-gratification. Literature and education could unshackle the society.”
Referring to the issue of AI, one of the dominant subjects of discussion at the two-day literary meet, he noted: “Since we are humans and have a heart and emotion, AI could not get the better of us.”
Addressing the gathering, Saswati Das said no society could progress by ignoring literature and culture. “The need to organise such festivals becomes more imperative in view of the lack of interest in literature in the young generation,” she said.
Prof Prasanta Kumar Patra, Pro-Vice Chancellor of SOA presided over the programme which was also addressed Prof Gayatribala Panda, Head, PPRACHIN, and Festival Director and Prof Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare) and Chief Coordinator of the event.
