Russian devotee learns Oriya faster than Chief Minister

[Guest guest]

PURI: What Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik could not do in six years, a Russian woman has done in just a matter of six months.

 

Meet 37-year-old Alvira alias Abantika. She has not only mastered the art of speaking Oriya, but also sings hymns by Jaydev, Salabega and Banamali and the Geet Govind with perfection. And all this within a span of just six months. On the other hand, Patnaik has spent six years in the CM’s office but is still unable to speak his mother tongue.

 

Abantika said that she was interested in Lord Jagannath and realised that it would not be possible to understand him without learning the language. ‘‘I learnt Oriya within six months. I realised that unless I knew the language, it would be impossible for me to know Jagannath.’’

 

The Russian also purchased some Oriya primers and kept hearing people speak the language. ‘‘I did not go for any formal tuition in the language but always tried to speak it. It is not difficult to learn it,’’ she added.

 

An Iskcon devotee, she visits Puri at least thrice a year. Abantika recently became the first foreigner to perform Oriya songs at Lion’s Gate, the main entrance of Jagannath Temple, at a concert during snan purnima . She also mesmerised the audiences at the International Peace and Harmony Congress here.

 

‘‘She was very fast in learning Oriya songs. She has a sweet voice and her pronunciation of Oriya words is quite similar to ours,’’ said Nalini Kanta Nayak, a music teacher at the city-based Meera Music School. Abantika attended music classes at Nalini’s school for 22 days.

 

‘‘At the school, she used to practise her lessons everyday for an hour. She could memorise the notations very quickly. Though she used to write the Oriya songs in English alphabets, her pronunciation was very much like a native’s,’’ Nalini, said.

 

Before taking her last lessons from Nalini, Abantika had also impressed renowned vocalist Bhubaneswari Mishra. ‘‘I was surprised to see that she could sing religious songs so comfortably. I have trained four foreigners so far, but Abantika was the best,’’ Mishra said.

 

Recalling her earlier days when she expressed an interest in Jagannath, Abantika said recitation of hymns used to leave her in a trance.

 

“While chanting or listening to religious songs based on Jagannath, I feel his presence within me,’’ she said. ‘‘ I became emotional while singing in the concert at Lion’s Gate.’’

 

She wants to spread Jagannath culture to the world. ‘‘I have been visiting various countries to preach Jagannath culture.’’