Manoj Das in Bhubaneswar on Sunday. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 16: Hundreds of literature lovers flocked to the IDCOL auditorium in the capital where prolific author and professor of English at the Pondicherry-based Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, Manoj Das, delivered a speech during the annual function of Media Academy. Das spoke on the subject “Intimacy among humans: Yesterday and today”.

The auditorium was filled with young admirers of Das and litterateurs who came from all across the state to attend the deliberation. In his speech, Das said that while there was much discussion about the declining intimacy and empathy in this world, one must not forget that the human race had gotten rid of many inhuman practices such as slavery and was going forward in many ways.

“Nature has a plan and we are all a part of it. Since time immemorial, man has possessed traits of anger and ego that he has used against another of his race,” said Das. “But then, there are many instances when he has got united in strange situations,” he said, while giving instances from epics such as Mahabharata and Homer’s Odyssey and Illiad.

“In both cases, one can notice unity among warriors when they fight against their enemy,” said Das.

Giving many instances from history, Das argued that the world was going towards one common goal and that goal was to become better. “Consciously or unconsciously, our souls know they are a part of the divine plan and therefore there is no reason to lose hope,” he said.

Youngsters seemed moved by Das’ deliberation. “I have read many of his books and they are always inspiring. Today also, he gave us hope that the human race is going forward spiritually,” said Priyabrata Panda, a young writer and corporate employee.

“I wish we youngsters of the city had got regular opportunities to be inspired by him. His positive energy is infectious,” said college student Amrita.

Present at the occasion were known faces from the literature world such as Baishnabcharan Mohanty, Rajendra Narayan Das, Raj Kishore Mishra. Other speakers at the event were Soumyranjan Patnaik, editor of an Oriya daily, journalist Pradosh Patnaik and Basant Das, secretary, Media Academy. Das released an anthology of Oriya essays titled Prabandha Payodhi.