A Great Odiya Poet-Benudhar Raut

Odisha is a state in the eastern part of  India. One of the four spiritual abodes ,i.e. Lord Jagannath's iconic temple is situated in the Puri district. In the Skanda Purana it has been written that when there will be innumerable Mahapralaya meaning the ultimate destruction of the universe then only one place is not susceptible to it,i.e Lord Jagannath's Puri Temple. Here Maharshi Markendaya will do his meditation to Lord Vishnu. It has been always  underrated irrespective of its rich culture and heritage. In the same manner Odia literature is too rich to portray like everything of Odisha it has also been under rated.

Pingalara Surya is an outstanding book in the Odiya literature. The poet  Benudhar Raut had created milestone in Odiya literature. Pingala is a character of a prostitute where she is searching for her ultimate man.But finally realizes that God comes out from her Pingala vein which was in her hand. She finds her Man. The light was so glorious that she could not see anything and she fells down there and gets salvation This light is the identification of spirituality. Here the Poet says that he becomes blind with the gain of the eternal divine light.

Many great poems he had composed which has high-profile significance.

When the poet was in his old age and receiving the Utkal Award at that time it was happening in a great place in Bhubaneswar. It was dusk. He was least bothered about the award, the money he got. He was waiting eagerly for a cup of tea. He was exhilarated after having a cup of tea from the waiter. I was also present there. What was the spectacular scene!

I remember about the famous short story A Cup Of Tea by Katherine Mansfield, how the small girl craves for a cup of tea in the said story.