Odisha heritage protection must start at home, says Dr Kamal Prasad Mohapatra
The educationist warned that the decline of joint family structures is contributing to the gradual loss of the state's cultural traditions.
Speaking at the 5th Pragyan Chakra program on Sunday evening, educationist, columnist, and author Dr Kamal Prasad Mohapatra said that preserving Odisha's traditions must start within the household before becoming a wider social movement, according to Pragativadi.
Dr Mohapatra, the chief speaker at the event titled "Our Heritage at Crossroads", noted that the state's cultural heritage is declining because society is moving away from joint family structures.
He highlighted various aspects of Odisha's identity, including its maritime history, classical arts, architecture, and literature. He mentioned that the Odia language achieved classical language status in 2014 and cited poets such as Upendra Bhanja, Abhimanyu Samanta Singhar, Jayadeva, and Sarala Das.
The speaker also referenced architectural sites like the Konark Sun Temple, Puri Jagannath Temple, and Lingaraj Temple. He noted that early Odia merchants, known as Sadhabas, sailed to places like Java and Sumatra in boats called boitas.
Dr Mohapatra claimed that ruling authorities often neglect historical preservation due to a lack of political will. He suggested that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 should include specialised research centres and higher education in Odisha.
The program was coordinated by Professor Biswaranjan and included participants such as Dr Bhagabat Shukla, Dr Basanti Mohanty, and Dr Satyanarayan Mishra. The event ended with a floral tribute to Pragativadi founder Pradyumna Bal and a vote of thanks by Manoranjan Das.