Kalinga Literary Festival Bhava Samvad to discuss fascinating journey into the life of the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, with author Kasturi Ray

Bhubaneswar: Kalinga Literary Festival Bhava Samvad to discuss fascinating journey into the life of the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, with author Kasturi Ray .

Embark on a fascinating journey into the life of the President of India, Her Excellency Droupadi Murmu, with author Kasturi Ray in an insightful discussion session as part of the #KLFBhavaSamvad Series!
🗓️ Save the date: 20th May at 4:30 PM for this live event, streaming on the Kalinga Literary Festival’s Facebook, Twitter & YouTube Channels.
🔖 “Droupadi Murmu” by Kasturi Ray unveils a compelling narrative that delves into the inspiring life and remarkable journey of Her Excellency, from a tribal village of Odisha to the highest position in the country. This thought-provoking book sheds light on her experiences, achievements, and the challenges she has overcome throughout her distinguished career.
🎙️ Engage in an enlightening conversation with the author herself, Sr. Journalist Kasturi Ray, as she shares her insights, research, and creative process behind “Droupadi Murmu.” Gain a deeper understanding of the book’s portrayal of the President’s life, the significance of her accomplishments, and the impact she has had on Indian society.
💬 Joining the author in the discussion is Prof. Jatindra Kumar Nayak, an eminent scholar and translator, who will provide valuable perspectives on the book and its cultural significance. Their expertise will add depth and richness to the conversation, comprehensively exploring “Droupadi Murmu.”
📖 Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to be part of a captivating literary discussion on “Droupadi Murmu,” exploring the life of the current President of India. Mark your calendars and tune in to the KLF Bhava Samvad Series for an insightful evening that celebrates the remarkable & inspiring life of Her Excellency Droupadi Murmu, President of India.

‘Johar!’ began President Droupadi Murmu’s first presidential address. That word, a tribal greeting, marked a milestone in the history of the nation and a new direction in its politics. Droupadi Murmu: From Tribal Hinterlands to Raisina Hills encapsulates the journey of a tribal girl who defied all odds to grow up into an institution signifying resilience, determination and grit. Charting a path less travelled, Murmu carved out many firsts, right from stepping out of the nondescript village Uparbeda in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha to becoming the First Citizen of India. Through interviews and detailed analysis, journalist Kasturi Ray tracks Murmu’s life, following her through school and college, from being a teacher to social worker, councillor to minister, from taking charge as the governor of Jharkhand to becoming the president—a tale of incredible resilience and dedication to service. She narrates how Murmu was able to overcome personal tragedy and return to her commitment to helping the people and giving a voice to the downtrodden and underserved.

In the seventy-fifth year of Independence, when the nation celebrated Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, she was chosen to lead the country, raising the hopes of millions of the downtrodden, tribals and women. The book traces her footprints in the sands of time as a fighter, believer and winner and narrates an inspiring journey.

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK
Kasturi Ray has been a journalist for over 28 years with a large body of work in print, broadcast and digital media. Currently the senior news editor at The New Indian Express, Bhubaneswar, she was the features editor of the media house for 19 years before moving on to the fast-paced and ever-growing digital space. She served as the senior editor of English digital platform of Odisha Television Limited for over three years. An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, she has also written for Firstpost and The Quint besides serving the Women’s Features Service and the Asian Age. A SAWM-UNICEF fellow for reporting on development journalism, she is currently
pursuing her doctorate in English literature on the topic of journalists being life narrators from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar.
She is a visiting faculty at the Birla Global University in Bhubaneswar and has received many awards and accolades, including the Laadli Media Awards for Gender Sensitivity (East) 2013–14 and Aryaa Awards for excellence in journalism 2016–17.

Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) launched its virtual literary venture ‘KLF Bhava Samvad’ on May 17, 2020. While the world was switching to digital mode, KLF decided to continue the celebration of the literary spirit with Bhava Samvad by adapting to the same. It has now completed more than 400 online engaging sessions in the span of two years and has reached over five million viewers.