Odisha’s minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Health and Family Welfare Niranjan Pujari inaugurated the two-day event, being hosted by Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University in the backdrop of the first World Odia Language Conference.

The minister said Odisha was carved out as a state on the basis of language in 1936, and Odia boasted of a rich heritage and legacy.

The minister said the state government had planned the three-day World Odia Language Conference to create ripples and generate consciousness among the Odia youth and those living outside the state or country about their own language.

Among others who graced the inaugural session were literateur and former Odisha minister Rasbehari Behera, expert on culture Prof. Jagannath Das and media expert and editor Dr Umakanta Mishra.

Dr Gayatribala Panda, Head of SOA Centre for Preservation, Propagation and Restoration of Ancient Culture and Heritage of India (PPRACHIN) and Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare) delivered addresses at the programme, which was presided by SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda.

Pujari quoted extensively from the works of celebrated Odisha poets Gangadhar Meher and Bhima Bhoi, saying that their poetry contained deep philosophical value which needed to be studied and researched.

Chief guest Behera praised the government for showing positive intent to promote Odia language, and said this programme should have continuity and that there was a need to create passion for Odia among school and college students.

Dr Mishra felt that universities should take the lead in promoting Odia by popularising it among students.

The opening day’s discourses included subjects like ‘Jagannath Culture’, ‘Ancient Odia Literature’, ‘Medieval Odia Literature’ and ‘Puranic Literary Traditions in Medieval Odia Literature’. The subjects of the discourses on Monday will include ‘Odisha’s Tribal Culture’, ‘Odia Literature’, ‘Odia Culture’ and ‘Modern Odia Literature’.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister wished the three-day conference, to be held from February 3 to 5, a huge success.

“I hope this conference will serve as a good forum for exchange of views among intellectuals, researchers, scholars, and students,” the CM said.

Stating that Odisha is the first linguistic state in modern India, Naveen said Odia language has gained the status of one of the classical languages and has increased the glory of our soil and language. The first World Odia Conference will discuss the past, present, and future of the Odia language and set goals for its propagation, he said.

The Chief Minister further said that as a strong carrier of a unique heritage, the conference will find ways to increase the respect for the Odia language among our future generations and how our language can progress through modern technology, as well as the future course of action.

It may be recalled that the world conference was approved at a meeting of Heritage Cabinet chaired by the Chief Minister on December 19, 2023.

The Chief Minister has already appealed to all stakeholders to make the conference a grand success. He has directed the Odia Language, Literature and Culture department to coordinate with all concerned for smooth conduct of the event.

“The World Odia Language Conference will reflect the unique identity of our language. It will deliberate on how to further popularise Odia as a classical language. It will attempt to attract the young generation of the state to adopt the language in various technical applications in present time,” he had said earlier.

Eminent linguists and language researchers from around the world will deliberate on antiquity and continuity of Odia language in the three-day conference. Besides discussing the origin, development and spread of the language, the experts will also make fact-based presentation on the outline on its history, present and future.