Paradip’s Jayadeva Sadan is hosting a marriage on the poet’s birth anniversary. Telegraph picture

Paradip, May 6: The birth anniversary of legendary poet Jayadeva was observed today across the state. But the authorities of the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) here did nothing to honour the Sanskrit litterateur.

The port town boasts of an auditorium that is named after the Gita Govinda poet. A few years ago, the poet’s bust had also been installed at Jayadeva Sadan.

Showing scant regard for the poet, PPT, the custodian of the auditorium, has given it on rent for a marriage ceremony being held today. Many believe that today a literary session should have been hosted there. The Orissa Sahitya Academy has taken strong exception to such show of ‘contemptuous’ disregard towards the famous poet.

“It is disconcerting and very upsetting. No institution, be it of the state government or the central government, has the right to show disregard to such great personalities. One may skip the celebration of his birth anniversary. But the show of such disregard by giving the auditorium named after the poet on rent for a marriage party on this day is in bad taste,” said Rama Chandra Behera, president, Orissa Sahitya Academy.

“If the PPT officials failed to hold an anniversary function, they should have at least garlanded the poet’s bust as a symbolic act to pay their regards. It’s unfortunate that Jayadeva Sadan was given on rent for marriage today. A number of residents have expressed their anguish over the matter on telephone,” Behera added.

“The literary circle here is shocked over the insensible attitude of the port trust authorities. To rent out the auditorium for commercial purposes on his birth anniversary is regrettable. PPT used to observe Jayadeva’s birth anniversary every year. I do not know what prompted them not to observe the day this year,” said litterateur Pitabar Tarai.

“Incidentally, the PPT is observing a year-long golden jubilee celebration of its establishment. Recently, they organised functions to observe the birth anniversary of Oriya leaders such as Madhusudan Das and Biju Patnaik. In such a situation, non-observance of the poet’s birth anniversary and renting out the auditorium for a marriage defies all logic,” said Binoy Kumar Ray, a local resident.

PPT’s public relations officer Prakash Mishra said: “We did not receive any instruction for observing Jayadeva’s birth anniversary. The Jayadeva Sadan was booked in advance for a marriage ceremony.”