Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has applauded a book titled ‘The Sikh History of Odisha’.
The book has been written by a young writer from Balasore, Abinash Mahapatra. The Chief Minister congratulated the writer and wished him a bright future. The book elucidates poignant relationship between Jagannath culture and Sikh religion.
Mahapatra met Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) chairman Lenin Mohanty at the latter’s office and gifted him a copy of his book.
Jagannath culture is an amalgamation of all faiths. The cult of Jagannath has attracted numerous saints and great men since ancient times. In this pattern, Guru Nanak – the founder of Sikhism – also visited Puri. A Gurudwara was also built in Puri in his memory.
The Sikhism professed by Guru Nanak stands for universal brotherhood, sacrifice, love, humanity and emphasises on a continuous fight against social injustice, Lenin Mohanty said while showering praises on the author and his book.
Mohanty said that the book enlightens about Guru Nanak’s arrival in Odisha, propagation of Sikhism in the state and illuminates the true essential values of the faith.
Mohanty went on to say that the illustrative book will encourage the youth towards religiosity and it also might be useful for researchers to gain more awareness of the commonality between Jagannath culture and Sikhism.
