A special felicitation ceremony took place at the Indian Ministry of Culture’s venue in Salt Lake, Kolkata, organized by the Bengali Encyclopedia under the inspiration of UNESCO. The event, held on the occasion of the 69th birthday of renowned writer Prithviraj Sen, celebrated his legendary contributions to Bengali literature. With over 2,000 books authored in Bengali, Sen has established himself as one of the most influential figures in world literature.
The ceremony began with a ceremonial lamp lighting by Paramanandaji Maharaj of the Belur Ramakrishna Mission, followed by a warm welcome from Abdul Karim, Chief Manager of Bengali Encyclopedia. The event was presided over by Dr. Kamal Uddin, Principal of Hingalganj College, and attended by a host of distinguished personalities, including Animesh Shastri, Dr. Sadhan Roy, Kaushik Sardar, Shri Krishnapada Das, and several others. Over 800 spectators attended, making the celebration even more vibrant.
In a moment of literary significance, the World Bangla Poetry Collection, co-edited by Prithviraj Sen and Abdul Karim, was unveiled, alongside two books focusing on the finest Bengali literary works of the 21st century. Additionally, Shraddhay Bhalasoyay Prithviraj, a book edited by poet Abdul Karim, was launched.
The cultural portion of the ceremony featured performances by students from Kolkata’s prestigious Smt. Jahar Nandi Vidyapeeth, showcasing dance, song, and poetry recitations that added a lively and artistic element to the event.
A highlight of the evening was the recognition of 20 prominent Bengalis of the 21st century, who were honored by UNESCO and the Indian Ministry of Culture. The honorees included Halima Begum, Dr. Akbar Ali, Anita Mukherjee, and several others, each of whom has made significant contributions to Bengali culture and society.
The ceremony was graced by a wide array of dignitaries, including former Kolkata Sheriff Dr. Sadhan Roy, internationally acclaimed scientist Anirban Das, Padma Shri awardee Narayan Chakraborty, astrologer Animesh Shastri, and various renowned artists, poets, and social activists.
To mark the occasion, guests were presented with attractive badges, mementos, lunch packets, uttariyas, and certificates as tokens of appreciation. The ceremony concluded with a call for global Bengalis to join the Bengali Encyclopedia initiative, followed by the national anthem, bringing the event to a close on a note of unity and pride.