CG’s Speech at First Odisha Festival
Hon’ble Member of Parliament Shri Sujeet Kumar
Hon’ble Member of Odisha Legislative Assembly Shri Debiprasad Mishra
Acclaimed film director Padma Shri Nila Madhab Panda
Ms Masako Namikawa from the Odisha Cultural Exchange Society, Japan
Distinguished guests, friends, ladies and gentlemen.
Namskar, Konnichiwa, Good evening.
28th May 2023 (Odisha Tazanews) BBSR :- On behalf of the Consulate General of India, Osaka-Kobe, I extend a warm welcome to all of you to the last element of today’s three-part programme of the first Odisha Festival in Japan. In the first part, we had a very informative lecture by Dr. Kazunobu Mitsuda, a former Associate Professor at the International Research Centre for Japanese Studies in Kyoto University about the plausibility of a cultural thread linking Odisha and Japan in the historical context. Then in the second part, we watched a beautiful movie ‘Kalira Atita’ – Yesterday’s Past – that at once showcases the richness and brilliance of the craft of the Director, actors and technicians, and also draws the audience’s attention to the alarming dangers of climate change. That was followed by a short yet intimate conversation between the film’s director Shri Nila Madhab Panda about his concern about environment and his passionate pursuit of climate action and the eminent linguist and scholar from Japan Padma Shri Dr. Tomio Mizokami, Professor Emeritus at the Graduate School of Foreign Studies, Osaka University. Incidentally, Dr. Mizumaki has kindly supervised the Japanese subtitling of Madhab’s another powerful film Kadoi Hawa or ‘Bitter Wind’. We hope to hold its screening in Japan at an early date. And now, in this third part, we have a presentation of two distinct performing art forms from the state of Odisha. Ms. Yumiko Hananomiya and Ms. Sachiko Murakami along with her students of Padmini Kulam will perform Odissi, which is a classical dance form born in the state of Odisha, typifying grace and vivacity. And then, we will see – for the first time in Japan – a folk dance from Odisha by a troupe that comes from the Kalahandi District of Odisha. Some of you would have also seen the photo panel exhibition showing prominent tourist attractions in the state that has been displayed in the foyer. Additionally, a few stalls exhibiting the rich handicraft and handloom products of Odisha have also been put up there. These products have been brought exclusively for the exhibition by Odisha E-Store. I will urge all of you to visit the stalls after the programme, if you haven’t already done so. So, as you can see, a great deal of effort has gone into putting together a vibrant, colorful and fulsome festival for your pleasure. I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the team of very committed volunteers of the Odisha Cultural Exchange Society of Japan for this initiative. Working with you, has always been a gratifying experience for me. I am fortunate to have lived and worked in a number of countries, and I have no hesitation in acknowledging that among them, Japan stands out in a very sharp relief, for the boundless love and affection that its people have for Indian art and culture. I have never met so many citizens of any other country so intensely committed to the selfless pursuit of promoting Indian art and crafts, culture, cuisine, language and literature. For those, who may not know, the Odisha Cultural Exchange Society of Japan is a group, comprising entirely of Japanese citizens hailing from different parts of the country, who are united by their shared affection for Odisha.
Some of them are Odissi dancers, yet others are associated with the Nipponjan Myohoji Daisanga’s peace pagoda at Dhauligiri in Odisha. Besides, there are others, who have visited Odisha just as tourists but developed a great deal of fondness for its people and culture. In the past, when Odisha was ravaged by cyclones, they have raised funds and tried to contribute to the relief and rehabilitation efforts in their modest ways. Most recently, in October last year, they took a small cultural delegation to Odisha to take part in the 50th anniversary of the construction of the Dhauligiri Peace Pagoda.
I understand that they had met the Hon’ble S&T Minister during that time. Unsure of receiving any external support, Mr. Yutaka Oasa and Ms. Sachiko Murakami from the Odisha Cultural Exchange Society of Japan, had approached me a few months back with a very humble plan for the Odisha Festival. But I felt obligated to work with them to upscale the event and make it grand. In this, I have received generous support from the Government of Odisha and I would like to convey our deepest appreciation for them through Hon’ble Science & Technology Minister.
I am also thankful to Hon’ble Member of Legislative Assembly Shri Debiprasad Mishra and my very good friends Hon’ble Member of Parliament Shri Sujeet Kumar and the acclaimed film director Shri Nila Madhab Panda for spending their own funds to join us for the event. My gratitude to all of you in the audience, for kindly coming for the event. I hope all of you will enjoy it in the fullest measure. I would conclude by sharing with you a deep personal desire.
I wish this Festival does not become a one-off event and is held annually, becoming bigger and better with each passing year. I also earnestly hope that in doing this, they will receive the continued support of the Odisha Government as also the support of the Odia community living in Japan. I also wish that one day, we will see this beautiful festival traveling to Odisha, to demonstrate to the people of Odisha the boundless love that our beautiful friends in Japan possess in their hearts for them, and their wonderful land.