90-yr-old British Indian writer ‘denied’ entry to event

Kendrapada: Nonagenarian writer and painter Prafulla Mohanti, a British citizen of Indian origin, claimed on Wednesday that he was barred from attending the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Bhubaneswar as his application was rejected on the govt portal because he does not have a PAN card.Mohanti, who travelled from the UK specifically for the three-day convention, was dismayed at the rejection. "I submitted my British passport and other necessary documents, but was denied entry solely because I don't have a PAN card. Decades of my work speak for me," Mohanti told reporters at his ancestral Nanpur village in Jajpur district.Mohanti, who received the honorary fellowship from Sahitya Akademi in Nov 2022, claims he had sought assistance from senior state govt officials, including the deputy chief minister's office, but didn't get any response.Deputy CM Pravati Parida clarified that the matter falls under the Union govt's jurisdiction. "State govt has no role in granting permission to NRIs and overseas citizens to attend the convention," she said. Parida, along with other senior officials, had met Mohanti at his London residence just two months ago during their official visit to the UK.Born in 1934 in Nanpur, Mohanti is celebrated for his contributions to literature and art. His works, including ‘My Village, My Life' and ‘Changing Life and Indian Village Tales', have received international acclaim. A graduate of Bombay's JJ School of Art, he has held over 60 exhibitions worldwide and is known for his vivid portrayal of rural life.Despite residing in London since 1960, Mohanti maintains strong ties with Nanpur, spending several months in the village every year and contributing to its development. He also organised ‘Nanpur Festival' at London's Nehru Centre in 2015.