Bhubaneswar, July 01, 2025, – A heartfelt memorial festival for Odia language and literary folk poet Nand Kishore Bal was observed today at Swasti Plaza in Bhubaneswar. The event was organized by the Biju Janata Dal’s Cultural Coordination wing and ‘We For’ Bhubaneswar. The ceremony saw prominent figures, including BJD’s state senior vice-president and former minister Prafulla Samal, along with other dignitaries, paying tribute by offering floral wreaths and devotional homage at the poet’s statue.
In his address, former minister Prafulla Samal hailed Nand Kishore Bal as a leading pre-modern poet of Odia literature, noting that his works focused on rural Odisha, earning him the title of ‘Pallikabi’ (folk poet). Samal highlighted that Bal’s first composition, titled Pallichitra, shaped as poetry, was the foundation of this honor. The poet’s works vividly depict the beauty of rural nature, a theme recurrent in his extensive body of work.
Among his notable contributions, Bal’s Nanabaya Geet (songs for children) has gained widespread popularity across Odisha’s villages. He penned over 100 sonnets, each reflecting the essence of nature and rural life. Songs like Nanabaya Geet, Megha Barshila Tupuru Tupuru, Kesara Maila Gaja, and Keun Rajare Rahile Mo Raja have become household favorites, showcasing his unique poetic style and deep connection to Odisha’s rural ethos.
The event underscored Bal’s enduring legacy, with attendees praising his ability to weave the simplicity and splendor of village life into his poetry, cementing his place as a cultural icon of Odisha.
(Reported by Chandini Mohanty)
