Eminent persons to be felicitated on JB Patnaik’s first death anniversary

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Apr 12:

Three famous persons from the field of journalism, politics and literature will be felicitated during the first death anniversary observation of former Odisha chief minister and former Assam governor late Janaki Ballabh Patnaik.

The second state level meeting of Janaki Ballabh Smruti Sansad (JBSS) was held on Monday where this proposal was passed.

The meeting  headed by leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra in Odisha assembly was held in Budha Mandir, unit-4  in Odisha capital. As the former Odisha chief minister had  started his career as a journalist, later he entered politics and also had made an immense contribution to literature and culture.

Therefore, it was decided that three persons belonging to these fields in Odisha will be felicitated during the event.

The Utkal University of Culture former Vice Chancellor Bimalendu Mohanty will head the selection team. The team has been asked to submit the report within three days.

Notably, ahead of the first death anniversary of former Odisha Chief Minister Janaki Ballabh Patnaik, members of Janaki Ballabh Smruti Sansad (JBSS) on March 31 had met chief minister Naveen Patnaik to put forth their demands including naming several institutions and landmarks after the departed leader.

Since, there has been no reply from the chief minister’s office the members decided to again petition the Odisha chief minister.

The meeting has also decided the release of the half written autobiography by the late three-time chief minister during the occasion.

The veteran Congress leader, eminent litterateur and journalist had passed away at Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh on April 21 last year following a cardiac arrest.