Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, April 26: Oriya litterateur Kumudalata Mohanty was conferred with the Jhumuka Award-2015 during 29th annual literary conference of a magazine held at the Press Club of Orissa in the city, Sunday.
Mohanty, who was awarded for her work on children’s literature, was given a citation, memento and shawl as a token of respect.
“Children are the future of the nation,” said Mohanty.
“They imbibe morals more through story books or magazines. Therefore, it was my responsibility to entertain as well as help children imbibe morals through my writing. I am thankful for the award,” she said.
Nilamani Chand and Kujabihari Sahoo were also felicitated with the ‘Jhumuka Saraswata Samman’ for their contribution to children’s literature.
“I love to write for the children. I think of myself as a kid so that I can write properly for the children. I believe stories, poems, moral teaching can change the mind of these children,” said Chand.
A book titled ‘Adhyatmika Sourav’ was also unveiled during the programme. The book written by Satakodi Hota, president of the Orissa Sahitya Akademi, talks of the spiritual ways in which a man can find peace.
“The greatest achievement is when we move forward to uphold our Oriya culture and its heritage,” said Hota.
“It will take no time for people to be detached from their language, literature and religion if we do not teach the future generation the right things,” he said.
“The movement has begun. We have to safeguard our culture and its heritage,” said the Sahitya Akademi president.
Those present at the function include former chief secretary SB Mishra, and the vice-chancellor of the cultural university of Orissa, Debendra Nath Jena and Chandrabhanu Satapathy, a disciple of Sai Baba.
