Literary Discussion :
*Bharatiya Adikavya O Odia Sahitya*
ଭାରତୀୟ ଆଦିକାବ୍ୟ ଓ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସାହିତ୍ୟ*
(ବିଶ୍ବ କାବ୍ୟଦିବସ ଉପଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟେ)
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A Literary Program on "Bharatiya Adikavya O Odia Sahitya" was organised by Akhila Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad, Ganjam Branch, Brahmapur, Odisha on 18 March 2026, Wednesday at 7.30 pm through Google Meet App. Online, on the occasion of Vishwa Kavya Divas.
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As Invited Chief Speaker, Dr. Harekrishna Meher delivered speech on Bharatiya Adikavya, Ramayana written by Adikavi Maharshi Valmiki and his valuable contribution to the World Literature.
In the beginning, continued discussion on Kavya's several definitions (शब्दार्थौ सहितौ काव्यम्, वाक्यं रसात्मकं काव्यम् etc.) Kavya's aims, social values and related Rasa etc. Kavi-karma is Kavya or Kavita.
Continued speech on Adikavyatva of Ramayana with Sage Valmiki's Shoka and the Sloka:
'मा निषाद ! प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगम: शाश्वती: समा: । यत् क्रौञ्च-मिथुनादेकमवधी: काममोहितम् ।।' composed after seeing the death of male Kraunch Bird killed by the hunter. Adikavya is created with Karuna Rasa.
Recited with reverence,
Mahakavi Kalidasa's Verse 'निषाद-बिद्धाण्डज-दर्शनोत्थ:
श्लोकत्वमापद्यत यस्य शोक: ।।' (रघुवंश),
Also Anandavardhana's Verse
'काव्यस्यात्मा स एवार्थस्तथा चादिकवे: पुरा ।
क्रौञ्च-द्वन्द्व-वियोगोत्थ: शोक: श्लोकत्वमागत: ।।' (ध्वन्यालोक)
Contextually a poem of renowned Hindi Poet Sumitranandan Pant was recited :
'वियोगी होगा पहला कवि
आह से उपजा होगा गान ।
उमड़कर आंखों से चुपचाप
बही होगी कविता अनजान ।।'
Also remembered a line from 'Skylark' poem of famous English Poet P.B.Shelley:
'Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought.'
During long speech, cultural significance of Sage Valmiki's great Sanskrit Epic Ramayana and its Influence on various literatures of Indian languages were discussed. Though Odia Ramayanas are mainly based on Valmiki Ramayana, yet they bear the originality of poets with Odia culture and social milieu.
Following Indian tradition, numerous poets have enriched Odia Literature by writing Ramayana-stories in different names. Some main writings discussed are Bichitra Ramayana of Poet Sarala Das, Dandi Ramayana (also known as Jagamohana Ramayana or Dakshini Ramayana) of Poet Balaram Das, Ramabibha of Poet Arjuna Das, Baidehisha-Bilasa of Kavisamrat Upendra Bhanja, Raghaba-Bilasa of Poet Jadumani Mahapatra, Dasaratha-Biyoga and Tulasistabaka of Kavivara Radhanath Ray, Sita-Banabasa of Bhaktakavi Madhusudan Rao, Tapasvini, AyodhyaDrushya and Ahalyastaba of Swabhavakavi Gangadhar Meher, Angadapadi Chautisha or Angada-Chitau of Poet Jagadish Meher, Ahalyastaba and Jaifula Ramayana of Poet Manohar Meher, Santapa-sagar of Poet Bira Bikram Deva, Jautuka, Ramarajya, Satishri and Pushpaka O SitaRama of Poet Gadadhar Mishra, Rajarshi Ramachandra of Poet Gangadhar Guru and several others.
Further, Sadadhiva RamaLila, Bishi Ramayana, Keshava Ramayana and several Ramayana -based related works are popular in Odia literature. Most of them were referred with quotations in the long discussion.
Social and cultural aspects of Ramayana in humanitarian perspectives were also presented.
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Hearty thanks and gratitude to esteemed Convenor Prof. Dr. Prakash Chandra Panigrahi and the Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad for organizing this program. The program was very nice, delightful, inspiring and enjoyable.
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🙏🙏🙏
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Some Photosnaps of the said program are posted here.
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Facebook Post:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1b7e91NM8P/
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X (Twitter) :
https://x.com/i/status/2035222593922638335
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Blogpost:
http://hkmeher.blogspot.com/2026/03/literarytalk-by-drharekrishna-meher.html
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