SEEDS

The Rejuvenation of Odisha’s Cultural Foundations: Pala, Ravana Chhaya and the Lakhmi Purana

Satya Mohanty and Lalu Mansinha

Pala is a valuable cultural tradition of Odisha, combining theatre, Odissi music, highly refined Odia and Sanskrit poetry, wit, humor, and social satire.  Ravanna Chhaya (shadow puppetry) may well have originated in our part of the world millennia ago, and then spread through South and Southeast Asia.  Both of these art forms may be facing extinction under the relentless pressures of modern entertainment media.  In 2008, SEEDS (Sustainable Education and Economic Development Society) initiated a project to help sustain and enrich both the art forms.  The project has several facets: (a) popularisation; (b) training; (c) scholarship; (d) publication; and a (e) plan for self-sustainability after a few years.  There have been sponsored workshops, seminars and performances.  The overall goal of the project is to work with Odisha-based groups, artistes, and scholars to strengthen what may be called the “cultural infrastructure” of Odia society, deepening the links between the villages and the urban areas and creating channels of communication about progressive, democratic social values and ideals.

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Sustainable Economic and Educational Development Society (SEEDS)

What is SEEDS?

Sustainable Economic and Educational Development Society (SEEDS)  is a tax-exempt 501c(3) nonprofit organization registered in the US. It promotes sustainable advancement of  the people, focusing primarily in the state of Orissa, India. SEEDS began as a registered student organization at the University of Texas at Austin, and is now incorporated in the state of Oregon, USA. This article provides a glimpse into our organization.

Philosophy and Aspiration

SEEDS philosophy is rooted in our wish to promote educational and economic progress and development for the common folks particularly in Orissa, but in the developing world in general.

Glimpses from our projects -- lives and land:
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Public Library in the Phailin cyclone-affected areas Using technology to advance small-scale farming and entrepreneurship

What is the difference between eLibrary vs. traditional library? The shift from traditional libraries to the digital is not merely a technological evolution, but requires a change in the paradigm by which people access and interact with information. E-libraries open up an entirely new way of learning and interacting with Read more…