Bargarh, June 28: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday praised legendary Sambalpuri poet and Padma Shri awardee Haldhar Nag as a "radiant jewel of India" and “a symbol of Odia pride, voice and sentiment".

Pradhan was speaking at the two-day national seminar titled “Haldhar – Srujan and Darshan”, focused on the renowned Sambalpuri poet and his literary legacy, held at Barhaguda in Odisha's Bargarh district.

The event was organized through the joint efforts of Abhimanyu Sahitya Sansad (Ghens), Krishna Vikash Educational Institute, and other local bodies.

ବରଗଡ଼ ଠାରେ ସମ୍ବଲପୁରୀ ଭାଷାର ପ୍ରଥିତଯଶା ଲୋକକବି ପଦ୍ମଶ୍ରୀ ହଳଧର ନାଗ ଓ ତାଙ୍କ ସାହିତ୍ୟ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତରେ ଆୟୋଜିତ ଦ୍ୱି-ଦିବସୀୟ ଜାତୀୟ ଆଲୋଚନା ଚକ୍ର “ହଲଧର – ସଜନ ଆର୍ ଦର୍ସନ”ରେ ଯୋଗଦେବା ମୋର ସୌଭାଗ୍ୟ । ବରଗଡ଼ ଭଳି ସାରସ୍ୱତ କେନ୍ଦ୍ରସ୍ଥଳୀରେ ସାହିତ୍ୟ ଅନୁଷ୍ଠାନ ଅଭିମନ୍ୟୁ ସାହିତ୍ୟ ସଂସଦ, ଘେଁସ ଏବଂ କ୍ରିଷ୍ଣା ବିକାଶ… pic.twitter.com/Csj0KqPsJ1
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) June 28, 2025

In his address, Pradhan emphasized that literature fuels intellectual energy and emotional renewal, and hailed Nag’s contributions to Sambalpuri literature as unparalleled. He highlighted that not everyone becomes a litterateur, but everyone needs literature—especially those who can express deep thoughts in their mother tongue, as Nag does with Sambalpuri.

“There is no contradiction in the philosophy and principles present in poet Haldhar Nag’s literary creations. May his pen flourish even more, this is a prayer at the feet of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath and Maa Samaleshwari,” he said.

The Union Minister also noted that “education in the mother tongue promotes original thinking”, aligning with the National Education Policy envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He further said, according to PM Modi, all Indian languages--including Odia and Sambalpuri--are national languages and should be given primacy in education to revive India’s global stature.

Several books and anthologies dedicated to eminent poet Haldhar Nag were unveiled during the program. Nag was also present on the occasion.

Odisha’s Higher Education Minister Suraj Suryavanshi, Bargarh MP Pradip Purohit, several MLAs, and other dignitaries, attended the event.

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