Paradip: As a satire poet, Beenakar Das is a well known face in this port town. His extraordinary talent of weaving words into a satire poem on any subject ranging from politics, political leaders and traditions to superstitions instantly has made him dear to the people here.
Beenakar, locally known as Ram, has been a sought after personality at PEETHA programme. Almost at all the programmes held during last two months, his presence not only attracted crowd, but also kept them glued to their seats. He is roped in for making people aware about the various programmes of the government through his own satirist poems.
Ram has so far been felicitated at 15 PEETHA programmes with certificates. He also received a certificate from ‘Mu Hero Mu Odisha’ programme.
At various stages, when he recites poems weaving words from the top of his mind on the leaders present on the dais, he has the audience rolling in the aisles.
However, he earns his livelihood through delivering ice cubes to fish vendors, mushroom vendors and lassi shops. In the mornings, Beenakar goes out with his trolley to get ice cubes from a nearby ice factory. Putting the cubes on the trolley, he goes around the town delivering them. Then he rides his old bicycle for collection.
This time he meets people in market and entertains them reciting his poems on various subjects.
“Ram is a happy-go-lucky kind of person. He is rich in heart but poor in pocket. We are mulling over giving him artistes’ pension,” said municipal executive officer Dillip Mahanty.
PNN