KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, April 2: “A doctor is like a goal-keeper who has to bear the brunt of failing to a goal despite preventing several goals from hitting the goalpost,” observed Dr Hara Prashad Pattanaik, a renowned gynecologic surgeon here at the Utkal Association in Jamshedpur.
Dr Pattanaik made his observation while attending a function held at the premier Odiya organisation on the occasion of celebrating the 89th anniversary of Utkal Diwas on Tuesday evening.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Pattanaik who travelled all along from Bhubaneswar to attend the Utkal Diwas here elaborated on what a rich and powerful state once Odisha was when it was known as Kalinga with the blessings of Lord Jagannath, but it had to suffer downfall for a long period due to the geopolitical reasons following the rulings by Moghuls and Britishers before finally it came into being as a separate state on April 1, 1936.
“Now Odisha is making steady progress in every field making us all whether in our state or outside proud. I expect when we will celebrate the centenary of Utkal Diwas in the year 2036, Odisha will figure among the five most developed states of the country, ” observed Dr Pattanaik.
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Significantly, Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty, director general, KIIMS, Bhubaneswar graced the occasion as the chief guest.
Dr Mohanty while addressing the audience mentioned about Odisha’s vibrant past and how did the Odiya heroes like Madhusudan Das and Fakir Mohan Senapati fought to bring the rich Utkal culture and language to the limelight before succeeding in carving out a separate Odisha state during the British Rules during which some gentlemen in the then dominating Bengal had opined in the corridor of power that Odiya is not a language, but mere a dialect.
“On an important day like Utkal Diwas, I wish that everyone from our community should feel proud for being an Odiya,” Dr Mohanty called upon the audience after his prolonged speech.
The function was presided over by Dr Sridhar Pradhan, president of Utkal Association and other dignitaries who were on the dais includeing Dr Sanjay Patra, Tarun Kumar Mahanty, Dr S. Raul, Shuvendu Kumar Behera, Badal Bhuyan and Sashmita Patra.
A cultural program followed when an Odissi dance group sent by the Odisha government presented enchanting performance.
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