PM Modi praises singers who lent voice to Sambalpuri cult song ‘Rangabati’

Bhubaneswar: A day after visiting Odisha’s Sambalpur for inauguration and foundation laying of several projects, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed happiness over his meeting with singers who had lent their voice to Sambalpuri cult song ‘Rangabati’ in 1970s.

The Prime Minister had met singers Jitendra Haripal and Krishna Patel of Rangabati fame during his visit to the western Odisha city yesterday (February 3).

The Prime Minister praised Haripal and Patel for lending their voice to the popular song that had been recorded for All India Radio in 1970s.

He claimed that the mesmerizing voice of Haripal and Patel has been resonating for over four decades.

“Jitendra Haripal Ji was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2017 for his exemplary contribution to music. His rendition of Rangabati is widely admired. Glad to have met him Odisha,” said the Prime Minister in a twitter (X) post today.

In another twitter post, the Prime Minister said, “Privileged to meet Krishna Patel Ji, a celebrated Sambalpuri folk singer, whose mesmerizing voice has resonated for over four decades. Her contribution to our cultural heritage is immense. The government had conferred Padma Shri on her in 2023.”

The Prime Minister also expressed pleasure over his meeting with renowned poet and lyrist Mitrabhanu Gountia, noted Sambalpuri litterateur Haladhar Nag and a few other Padma Shri awards recipients during his Sambalpur visit.

Notably, Gountia had written the popular Sambalpuri song Rangabati.