Kabi Samrat Uppendra Bhanja National Award to be instituted by Berhampur University

Will be presented to well-known poets of national stature every year

BY SUNIL PATNAIK

To popularize the works of eminent poet Upendra Bhanja (1670-1740),Berhampur University will institute an annual prize called the Bhanja National Award, which will be presented to well-known poets of national stature every year.

“We will honour famous and established poets at the national-level. It is not necessary for the poet to be honoured to be an expert in Bhanja’s works. But, we intend to popularise the name of Upendra Bhanja, known as Kabi Samrat in our state, at the national arena,” said Deepak Kumar Behera, vice-chancellor of Berhampur University.

The university will observe its golden jubilee in 2016 and the award will be instituted prior to the golden jubilee celebrations, he said. The varsity’s syndicate has approved the proposal.

A committee consisting political science professor Bishnu Charan Chowdhury, syndicate member Sudhansu Pati, registrar Manmath Padhi and chairman of the varsity’s postgraduate council Prasant Kumar Padhi would decide the modalities.

Bibekananda Panigrahi of Odia Science College, Hinjili, who is also a former member of Odisha Sahitya Academy, said: “One can compare Upendra Bhanja with Kalidas. But unfortunately, he is not that well known.”

Panigrahi’s book Upendra Bhanja Parikrama is a reference book at postgraduate level in Berhampur, Utkal and Sambalpur universities.

Few years ago, Sambalpur University has launched the Gangadhar Meher National Award to popularise him at the national level.

Lambodar Panigrahi, a lecturer in Odia language and literature at Mahamayee Women’s College, Berhampur, said: “It requires much efforts to translate the works of the poet into English and other Indian languages. At the same time, we must maintain the aesthetic values of Bhanja literature,” said Panigrahi. Source: Telegraph