Odisha Actress Gives New Boost To Library Movement

Bhubaneswar: Sammanita, a charitable trust run by Ollywood actress and activist Varsha Priyadarshini, and The Click Productions have launched an initiative, “Ama Pathaagaara”, to re-ignite the library movement in Odisha.

Several dignitaries including eminent writers Dash Benhur and Sanghamitra Mishra, Pakhighar publisher Banoj Tripathy and popular lyricist Bijaya Malla were present during the launch event at a Bhubaneswar hotel on Wednesday evening.

A Balangir-based teacher, Dileswari Dharua, was also felicitated on the occasion for “selflessly teaching” children at her village during the pandemic to ensure they didn’t lag behind due to the shutting down of a government school.

Notably, late Dasarathi Patnaik, fondly known as Dasia Aja, was the pioneer of Odisha’s library movement. He started with just 5 books in his trunk and ended up establishing a library that now houses over 1.5 lakh books and periodicals, palm leaf manuscripts, paintings, and other research materials.

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