Ms. Bigyani Das reports on two Odia literature sessions held during OSA Golden Jubilee Convention in Atlantic City,
Sahitya Mancha – Literature Forum
Odia Literature forum (sahitya mancha) was held on July 5th morning. Because guests were still arriving and figuring out event places, this event was missed by some enthusiastic participants. However, the event was very successful as the writers from the community shared their writing experience in the adopted land. They talked about their inspirations, opportunities and going through the publishing process. Satya Pattanaik, who had started a press with the name BLACK EAGLE BOOKS, talked about the motivation behind starting his own press and providing opportunity for writers like him in USA the best opportunity to publish their manuscripts on time.
Mrs Subhashree Das talked about her book publication with her write-ups that she had been publishing in Samal for some years. She showed her disappointment with very less people in the audience.
Dr Lalu Mansinha shared his optimism about the writer community in OSA that has been persevering through all these years. He was the first person to think about Odia electronic typing scripts when no Odia scripts were available. Now plenty of scripts are available and writers are more inspired.
Dr Babru Samal shared how he started writing in English. Initially he was unable to convey his thoughts. Then he took some classes on English pronunciation to improve his English. Through this process he started writing in English. Translating Pratibha Ray’s “Mahamoha” into English was a kind of journey for him.
The other members that shared their experiences were Shashadhar Mohapatra, Kanak Hota, Bigyani Das, Kalpanamayee Dash and Sulochana Pattnaik.
Prasanta Bhunya thanked the members and requested everybody to attend the poetry reading session next day.
Odia Poetry Reading
The poetry reading event took place on July 6th morning. Gagan Panigrahi welcomed everyone and summarized the program. Bigyani Das talked about logistics and the general flow of the program as well as requested everybody to stay within the time limit. Unlike the literary forum, more than 70 people attended the session and 26 readers read and entertained the audience through their poems and recitation abilities. Prasanta Bhunya thanked the audience. Group picture was taken. The session ended on time. Here is the list of readers that read their poem during the event.
| Readers | Title |
| Jayasmita Mishra | Abasara |
| Sumitra Padhi | Matrubhasa |
| Sulochana Pattnaik | Anamika |
| Niranjana Mishra | Kaliare |
| Shashadhar Mohapatra | Tuma Gaan |
| Devraj Sahu | Ganita |
| Ashutosh Jyotishi | Odishara Baisistya |
| Kalpanamayee Dash | Amathu |
| Sabita and Ineka Panigrahi | Kanta o Sumana |
| Kanaka Hota | Jagannatha Astakam |
| Jhinu Chhotray | Mo Chapala Smruti |
| Debasmita Patra | Uddam Singh |
| Gagan Panigrahi | Tume Bi Badaligala |
| Prasanta Bhunya | Rachayita |
| Bigyani Das | E Mahendra Bela |
| Sunanda Mishra Panda | Paramatma |
| Tanmaya Panda | Khara o Shita |
| Sikhanda Satapathy | Niruddista |
| Surya Mishra | Akasha Kahuchhi Ratiku |
| Rashmi Mohapatra | Jhiara Sansara |
| Joy Gopal Mohanty | Tirtha |
| Jnan Dash | Ei Sahakara Tale |
| Satyajit Pattnaik | Mo Kandhei Bahaghara |
| Swetapadma Dash | Ichhamayi Go Swamprabha |
| Subhasree Das | Ashara Kadhiti |
| Annapurna Pandey | OSA o Bandhuta |
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