Other States - Orissa

Orissa Sahitya Akadmi mired in controversy

BHUBANESWAR: As the Orissa Sahitya Akademi gears up for its golden jubilee celebrations in the capital on Tuesday, the question that intrigues the litterateurs and intellectuals of that State is “Is the Akademi really autonomous?”

The Akademi function as one of the departments of the Government, lamented former Union Culture Secretary and Jnanapitha awardee celebrated Oriya writer Dr. Sitakant Mohapatra while addressing the Akademi’s annual award presentation ceremony in the city on August 28 .

The remark of such an eminent personality has caused serious concern among the people of the State on the fragile future of its highest literary body.

On the previous day, Akademi’s general council member Mr. Souribandhu Kar resigned from the council in protest of the excessive interference of the Minister of Culture and Secretary in its internal affairs.

“Selection of the Atibadi Jagannath Das award – the State’s highest literary award - and veteran writers for felicitation were made when the Akademi did not have its president. Presidents and secretaries of the Akademi were also being appointed and terminated arbitrarily by the Government,” he stated and regretted that his appeal to the Chief Minister about its ‘poor state-of-affairs’ yielded no response.

The reaction of the writers over the Government’s ‘unwanted’ intervention took an ugly turn during the Akademi’s preparatory meeting for the golden jubilee celebration here on September 11. As Culture Minister Mr. S.N.Patro accompanied by Culture Secretary Mr. G.N.Mohanty arrived in the meeting to which they were not invited and dictated the proceedings, eminent litterateur Mr. Ratnakar Chaini protested.

Several writers present on the occasion including former Akademi secretary Mr.Raicharan Das endorsed Mr.Chaini’s views that forced the minister to leave the venue.

Sage advise

“There is an urgent need to amend the constitution of the Akademi to ensure its autonomy.

It should be modelled after the Constitution of the Central Sahitya Akademi,” suggested noted columnist and Akademi member Mr.Barendra Krushna Dhal.

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