BHUBANESWAR: State Archives Week is being observed by Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department from Wednesday February 13 and is slated to continue till February 19 at State Archives here.
During the week-long observance, many stalwarts in the field discussed the glorious past of State Archives. Principal Secretary, Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, Manoranjan Panigrahi in his speech stressed on Gandhiji’s ‘Satyagraha’, philosophy and his protest against the British.
He emphasised the fact that many of these protests were oriented from our state. Later, he inaugurated an exhibition named Mahatma Gandhi and Archives which is open for public viewing till February 19.
Director of the department Bijay Patnaik said, “Upheaval of any community or state depends on its archives. Mahesh Prasad Dash, ex-employee of the Archives, discussed the contribution of Late Sushil De who was instrumental in founding Odisha State Archives. His son was feted at the event.
A special Sushil Chandra De Memorial Speech event was held where Historian Kailash Chandra Das said, “Late Sushilji is the greatest reckoning force behind the glorious past of our archives. Without his lifelong contribution, the state may have never witnessed the archives that it has today. Every self-respecting Odia should be proud of him and his write-ups about Indian and Congress history which is timeless.”
Curator Suchismita Mantry also stressed on the need to keep the archive safe and updated and appealed city folks to visit the Archives as well as Mahatma Gandhi Archives exhibition.
Quite a few learned writers, historians and researchers were also present during the programme.