Incident of insult to an Odia poet at Banaras Hindu University
- Program cancelled at the last moment after inviting poet Shri Kedar Mishra
- A lecture program on revolutionary poet Bhima Bhoi was scheduled by the Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Odia Chair
- By exerting pressure from the Odisha Government, the university authorities cancelled the program
Bhubaneswar, 20/01/2026: At Banaras Hindu University (BHU), the prestigious Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Chair had invited Senior Journalist and Poet Shri Kedar Mishra to deliver a lecture on Santha KabiBhima Bhoi. However, when he reached, as a university guest, he was informed that the program had been cancelled due to pressure from the Odisha Government. The Biju Janata Dal has strongly condemned this insult to Odia Literature personality.
In a press statement today, Party Spokesperson and Media Coordinator Dr. Lenin Mohanty said that Banaras Hindu University authorities had invited Senior Journalist and Poet Shri Kedar Mishra to deliver a lecture on Santha Kabi Bhima Bhoi. This program had been finalized well in advance. Accordingly, Shri Mishra had reached BHU as a guest. Before the commencement of the program, the organizers expressed their helplessness and informed Shri Mishra that the program had been cancelled, stating that the Odisha Government did not want Shri Mishra’s lecture to take place.
The BJP government of Odisha had exerted pressure on the Banaras Hindu University authorities through ruling BJP leaders of Uttar Pradesh, for cancellation of Lecture of Senior Journalist and Poet Shri Kedar Mishra. Feeling insulted he returned from there. The Biju Janata Dal has strongly condemned such political interference by the double-engine government in the field of literature.
Dr. Mohanty said that due to the mean and narrow mindset of the BJP government, which came to power raising the slogan of “Odia Asmita” (Odia pride), such a shameful incident has occurred at one of India’s most prestigious universities. This insult is not merely an insult to an Odia poet; rather it is an insult to the entire Odia literary world and the people of Odisha. While the BJP government keeps delivering speeches about reverence and respect to literature personalities, such an unfortunate incident has exposed the true face of the BJP. Rising above such a narrow mindset, the BJP state government should refrain from insulting Odia literature personalities.
