by Arun Pathak
Bokaro: A grand literary ceremony was held on Sunday at Vidyapati Auditorium, Mithila Academy Public School, Sector 4, jointly organized by the Mithila Cultural Council and Sahityalok. The event saw the release of three Maithili works by veteran author Vijay Shankar Mallik ‘Sudhapati’ — Kautilya Arthashastra (abridged in Maithili verse), Acharya Chanakya Avadaan (a collection of policy tales), and Prahari Purush (also in verse).
The function was inaugurated by noted Sahitya Akademi awardee and retired IFS officer Kumar Manish Arvind, along with senior litterateurs Hitnath Jha, Buddhinath Jha, and other dignitaries. The program began with devotional renditions by Akshita Pathak and Arun Pathak of compositions by poet Vidyapati.
Speaking at the event, Manish Arvind emphasized the role of human sensitivity alongside national consciousness in literature, stating that true literary engagement must transcend ideological boundaries. He praised Chanakya’s ideas as still relevant, asserting that literature should prioritize truth over leftism or rightism.
Neeraj Chaudhary, General Secretary of the Mithila Cultural Council, expressed pride over the publication of the three books. Literary reviews of the books were presented by Shailaja Jha, Dr. Ram Narayan Singh, Hitnath Jha, and Manish Arvind, all praising the engaging style and contemporary relevance of the content, especially the depiction of Chanakya’s timeless philosophies.
The second session featured a vibrant poetry recital (Kavi Paath), showcasing contributions in both Maithili and Hindi. Poets like Meenu Mishra, Reena Yadav, Chandrakant Mishra, Rajeev Kanth, Neelam Jha, Kumar Manish Arvind, and others performed their works, touching on themes ranging from cultural identity and environment to societal reflections. Buddhinath Jha presided over the session, with Aman Kumar Jha anchoring and offering the vote of thanks.
The event was attended by a large number of literature lovers including Prakash Chandra Mishra, Batohi Kumar, Kiran Mishra, and others.
