Nirvik Bureau, Bhubaneswar, 9 May 2026
To commemorate the fourth death anniversary of the legendary cultural icon and Padma Shri awardee, Rajat Kumar Kar, the inaugural edition of the ‘Padmashree Rajat Kar Memorial Odisha Quiz’ alongside a solemn Memorial function was organized at the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Bhawan, Bhubaneswar.
The event, organized by the Rajat Kar Smriti Sansad, served as a tribute to a man remembered as the “embodiment of Odia pride” and a “walking treasure trove of knowledge.”
Youth Engagement Through Heritage Quiz:
The day commenced with the first-ever ‘Padmashree Rajat Kar Memorial Odisha Quiz’, designed to foster awareness among the youth regarding the state’s rich legacy. Over 40 teams from various schools, colleges, and corporate entities competed in rounds covering Odia language, literature, culture, food, politics, and tourism.The memorial quiz was inaugurated and hosted by Shri Kalpit Mohanty and youth icon, Shri Ahwaan Nayak. They addressed the gathering of young minds with motivational talks and ancedotes from the life of Dr. Kar and Lord Jagannath. The Winners of the 1st memorial quiz were Ronisha Das and Siddharth Rout and they were awarded.
Following the quiz, a memorial meeting was held under the chairmanship of former Director General of Police, Shri Manmohan Praharaj, who urged the younger generation to draw inspiration from Kar’s diligence and dedication to literature.
Distinguished speakers shared profound insights into the multifaceted life of Padma Shri Dr. Kar:
Shri Santosh Kumar Tripathi (Cultural Researcher) recalled Kar’s magnetic personality, noting how his lectures at Vani Vihar and his iconic Rath Yatra commentary attracted thousands to the beauty of the Odia language.
Dr. Sangeeta Gosain (Renowned Musician) highlighted his tireless efforts to secure classical status for Odia music, noting that his writings on Lord Jagannath were infused with “pure devotion” and the grace of Maa Saraswati.
Shri Anant Gopal Panda (Keynote Speaker) emphasized Kar’s eternal legacy, stating that he will be remembered as long as Bhanja Jayanti is celebrated and his plays continue to be broadcast on radio.
The ceremony began with a Vedic recital by Pandit Nagendra Mohapatra. Dr. Ansuman Kar delivered the welcome address, and the proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Er. Ranjit Kar.
The memorial function was a success due to the dedicated efforts of the Smriti Sansad members, including Sagarika Praharaj, Rajiv Kar, Mihir Prahraj, Nirlipta Mohanty, Debasmita Mohapatra, Ansumita Mohapatra, Aadya Kar, Dandapani Nayak, Amulya Kumar Swain, and Ashok Nayak.
