Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 8: Renowned anthropologist, poet, essayist and academician turned former IAS officer Dr Sitakant Mahapatra today delivered a special lecture on the poetry and contribution to Kashmiri literature by revered poet of Kashmir Prof Rehman Rahi.
The special lecture session was organized by PG Department of Kashmir in Kashmir University and attended by students, scholars and faculty members besides a galaxy of writers, poets, historians and academicians of repute.
While delivering the lecture, Dr Mahapatra termed Prof Rahi’s work as highly scholastic and said “Rehman Rahi is the most matured voice of Kashmiri poetry from the bleeding paradise of Kashmir and it is Rahi‘s magnificent work which brings Kashmir close to the whole world.”
Dr Mahapatra who is from Odisha and has 30 anthologies in English language to his credit is also a fellow of Oxford and Cambridge University and has noteworthy 14 anthologies in poetry as well.
In his presidential address, Vice Chancellor KU, Prof AM Shah while referring to the presence of Dr Mahapatra and Prof Rehman Rahi –both Jnanpith awardees said that the students, scholars and teachers of the University should seize this opportunity and try to learn from the experiences of these stalwarts.
Prof Rehman Rahi who was also present on the occasion as guest of honour said “It was a joyful surprise for me to see that one of the great poets of India like Dr Mahapatra deliberating upon the aesthetics of the poetry of Kashmiri language and going through my work.”
He said “It is not recognition of me as a poet but the recognition of Kashmiri language and Kashmiri poetry itself”.
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