| Wednesday, March 30, 2016 – 14:26
Haldhar has barely been to school but the poet and writer from western Orissa has been the topic for five PhDs
New Delhi: Haldhar Nag, a 66-year-old poet of Kosli language received the Padma Shri award from the hands of the President of India. Haldhar has barely been to school but the poet and writer from western Orissa has been the topic of research for five PhDs.
Nag remembers all his composed works, spanning the poems and the 20 epics that he has written in Kosli language, which would soon be compiled by Sambalpur University, and be a part of the university syllabus.
“He remembers whatever he writes and has been reciting them. You just need to mention the name or subject. He never misses anything. Now he attends at least three to four programmes every day to recite his poems,” said a close associate of the poet.
Nag told a leading newspaper, “It’s great to see the huge interest of young people in poems in Kosli. Everyone is a poet, but only a few have the art of giving them shape.” Nag added “I was felicitated and that encouraged me to write more. I started touring nearby villages to recite my poems and got huge response.”
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March 30, 2016 at 11:27 am sanjibkarmee
Following is a report from OTV:
A social organisation ‘Right to Fight’ today resorted to rail roko at Kantabanji station demanding setting up of a rail wagon factory in the district.
Supported by many other associations including the local traders’ body, hundreds of activists blocked the rail track following which the Puri-Ahemadbad express was detained for at least two hours. Rail communication on the route was disrupted for quite sometime due to the blockade.
However, they cleared the track after top officials of the railways met the agitating activists and assured them of forwarding their demand to the government. Normalcy was then restored on the route.
Pointing out that around 70 acres of land is lying unused in the district which can be be used for setting up the wagon factory, an activist said; “It is a long-standing demand of the people of Balangir. If the government fails to fulfil our demand, the agitation will be intensified in the coming days.”
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March 30, 2016 at 5:21 am sanjibkarmee
Following was Naveen Babu’s message (from twitter) on the occasion of “Sastriya Odia Bhasha Day”. Similarly, will the CM tell us what his govt. is doing for the preservation, promotion and protection of Adivasi and tribal culture of Odisha? What are the steps Naveen babu has taken for the development of Kosli language?
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March 11, 2016 at 8:07 am sanjibkarmee
Koshal state demand is valid. Nevertheless, many Koshal activists are ignoring the limitations of Koshal movement. Here are few limitations that are hindering the separate state movement:
Location of future capital city: When Telangana state was created there was no confusion about the location of its capital. People of Telangana unanimously supported Hyderabad as the capital of Telangana. Chandra Babu learned from his past mistakes. He is now building a new capital city that will benefit whole AP. In case of Koshal demand, so far, there is no clarity about its future capital city. People of Sambalpur want their district HQ as the capital city; whereas, Balangir/Kalahandi people want their own district HQs as the capital city. In future, such demands will come up from other districts as well.
Decentralization of resources in western Odisha: So far, we are debating about centralization of resources in BBSR. Many people in western Odisha (especially in KBK region) are asking what about centralization of resources in Sambalpur and Rourkela. Western Odisha (WO) is following a similar developmental approach like coastal Odisha and Bengal; where only big cities like Bhubaneswar and Kolkata are developing. Is centralization of resources in WO benefiting the tribals of Kalahandi, Balangir, Nuapada, Sonepur, Boudh etc,?
Politics vs economics: The activists and politicians who are heading the Koshal state movement lack of clear understanding about politics, politicking and economics. Koshal state demand should be based on economics and distribution of resources. Both the activists and politicians are unable to explain how a separate Koshal state will benefit livelihood of poor and the village economy. Thus, most of them are losing political supports and support from common man.
A separate Koshal state must not follow the example of Odisha and Bengal. These two states are worse when it comes to decentralization of resources. Still, the elite of western Odisha are following similar approaches. I hope the activists and politicians will address the limitations of Koshal state movement.
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Dr. Sanjib Kumar Karmee
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Update 1: Response to my post from Saket Sahu
Dear Sanjib,
The points you have noted are right. But these points are futuristic point. I mean it may not be the cause of slow down of the movement. The reasons in the ground are very different.
Sometime i fear of commenting on Kosal Movement, as you know, i’m here in the ground and knows all of them. I know all the Kosal movement leaders, also i was involved actively for a time and still personally keep sympathy for Kosal. LOT OF CONFUSIONS ARE THERE WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS BY THE LEADERS.
It is for sure that it is a political issue. Forget about the economy for the time being. Recently a seminar was organised by Mahamallik babu and his friends at Anchal College Padampur and i attended as a speaker to present on the language. Also listened some of the speakers including Mahamallik babu and it was really great that scholars of our region come out with all graphics and data to explain the backward/poverty of western Odisha/Kosal region.
It is true that the coastal Odisha is developed than western odisha. And the BJD govt was showing all the data from western Odisha and demanding SWATANTRA PAHYAA (SPECIAL PACKAGE) FOR THE STATE. But it was crushed down in parliament.
Now, come to Kosal. Though i support the Kosal movement still i also agree with the view of AC Naik on Kosal leadership. The youth and people are divided by party. BJP, BJD, Cogress. KKD has failed to impress the youth or mass. I’m repeating the leader need to address why we need Kosal to the mass. There we have failed.
Again, the complex composition of western Odisha with adivasi and backward class the politics become dyanamic here. Democracy is a word only, earlier it was kingship now democracy. Nothing has changed. When a ST/SC, OBC, BACKWARD CLASS, FARMER, LABOUR etc leader started demanding rights for his things slow he started searching a place in the mainstream politics. And then things started to develop….activist slowly become middle man, and loose their credibility….. This was explained by Saroj Mohanty of Sambalpur very well in his paper.
Apart from this, there are many complex reasons which stagnate Kosal movement.
If i will write here openly then people may hate me. Thats why i remain silent on this. Now the movement is in cold storage. It can be revive. Not a big issue but interest of leaders are important. The Kosal movement leaders are now looking to join other political parties for their future.
Regards,
Saket
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March 9, 2016 at 7:33 am sanjibkarmee
Kosal Discussion and Development Forum 