Cuttack: Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu today highlighted that Odia Mahabharata written by Sarala Das has not dimmed among Odias even after hundreds of years because of his unique style and diction. He said this shows the importance of writing and communicating with the people in simple and colloquial language.

The Vice President was speaking at the 600th birth anniversary event of Adikabi Sarala Das in Cuttack.

Hailing Sarala Das as not just Adi Kabi, but also as Adi Aitihasika and Adi Bhougolbith, Naidu said Sarala Das was a pioneer in democratizing literature as he had used colloquial language as early as the 15th century. Comparing Sarala Das with Kabir and Yogi Vemana, Naidu said that great poets have an extraordinary ability to communicate complex emotions and ideas in a simple language and leave a lasting impression on a wide cross-section of readers.

The Vice President also noted how Sarala Das' characterization of characters in his Mahabharata inspired many other authors to take a character or two and weave a full novel around them. Sarala's women characters are strong and endowed with remarkable qualities of head and heart, and they act with great courage and confidence, he observed.

Hailing Sarala Das as a literary genius, who earned the title of ‘The Father of Odia Language’, he said that he has enriched Odia language and culture. “No wonder, Odia came to be recognized by the Government of India as a Classical Language of India with Sarala Das standing as a beacon," he added.

On this occasion, Naidu complimented Biswabhusan Harichandan, Governor of Andhra Pradesh, for being conferred with the prestigious ‘Kalinga Ratna’.

Ganeshi Lal, Governor of Odisha, Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas among others were present during the event.