Bhubaneswar: People across Odisha are well versed with the iconic poem, ‘Manaba Jibana Nuhain Kevala Barsa Masa Dina Danda,’ penned by Utkal Gaurav Gopabandhu Das. But the author of the poem has been mentioned as Radhanath Ray in the official diary published and launched by the Odisha government on New Year sparking widespread resentment in several quarters.
The glaring goof-up has not gone well with several political parties as well as the organisations spearheading the Odia Bhasa (language) movement in Odisha.
“It is certainly unfortunate the way such mistakes were made in printing of the official diary,” said senior journalist, Pradhyumna Satpathy.
It is pertinent to mention here that there is usually a huge demand for the diary published by the General Administration (GA) department. The diary is now being sold at Rs 150 by Information and Public Relations Department.
Surprisingly, not only the aforesaid mistake, there are a lot of other mistakes in the poems of other eminent personalities including Godabarish Mishra that have been featured in the diary.
Terming such mistakes an insult to eminent personalities of the State, the BJP today staged a demonstration and demanded immediate withdrawal of the diary and reprinting after necessary corrections.
“The Odisha government and the CM should seek apology for such mistakes in the diary which should be recalled immediately,” said BJP leader Ramaranjan Baliarsingh.
BJP spokesperson Pitambar Acharya tweeted, "A government that do not have respect for Odia culture, literature and language, would obviously make such grave mistakes in the diary. Now our children would read, “Dharmapada” was written by Kabibar Radhanath Ray. Pandit Gopabandhu must be laughing from Heaven."