Kalahandi, YNN: Two important books on Odisha’s folklore were released – renowned storyteller and folk literature researcher Smt. Debahuti Kar’s ‘Odishara Sadhaba Kahani’ and researcher Uma Shankar Kar’s ‘Paschimaanchalara Lokakatha’.
Debahuti Kar’s ‘Odishara Sadhaba Kahani’ (published by Sathi Books, 328 pages) is her 36th published work. The book beautifully compiles 35 Sadhaba-bohu (merchant wife) tales still alive in different corners of Odisha. Scholars present at the event hailed it as the first-ever dedicated collection of pure Sadhaba stories in Odia literature – a truly pioneering effort.
Similarly, Uma Shankar Kar’s ‘Paschimaanchalara Lokakatha’ (published by Nabadiganta Prakashani) brings together oral epics, myths and folktales of western Odisha. It documents oral puranas of 8 tribal communities, 21 legends and 17 classic folktales with detailed analysis.
Both books were formally released on the evening of 25th November at a workshop jointly organised by the Odia Department of Maa Manikeshwari University, Bhawanipatna and Odisha Sahitya Akademi. The dais was graced by eminent writers and critics Dr. Giribala Mohanty, Dr. Kailash Patnaik, Dr. Bijay Kumar Satapathy, Dr. Krushna Chandra Pradhan, Dr. Dinabandhu Sahu, Dr. Pallishree Patnaik and Dr. Jayadev Sahu, who jointly unveiled the books.
Speaking on the occasion, the guests expressed confidence that these two volumes will greatly enrich the study and preservation of Odisha’s rich folk literature tradition.
