Bhubaneswar, Feb 3 (FN Agency) Odisha government will prepare a special language policy by accepting all the proposals in the World Odia Language Conference for the development of Odia language , Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said.Inaugurating the first World Odia Language Conference here on Saturday, Patnaik said the future of the Odia language and race is bright and the policy will strengthen the future of the Odia race. The Chief Minister said we will know the history of our language to see the present and prepare a road map for the future.Stating that language is the future, he expressed happiness that the Odia language has got classical status.The government, Naveen said, had taken several initiatives including establishment of an Odia University for the development of Odia language.
Patnaik said it was a proud moment for us that prominent writers, researchers and Odias residing in foreign countries have come together under one roof for the development of Odia language. State Culture Minister Aswani Kumar Patra said the main objective of the conference is how to popularize the odia language and take the language to more height using technology.On the occasion, the Chief Minister felicitated eminent littérateur Padma Shri Dr. Devi Prasanna Pattnayak with the Lifetime Achievement Award.Jnanpith Awardees Padma Bibhushan Dr Sitakanta Mohapatra and Padma Bhushan Dr Pratibha Ray were also felicitated by the Chief Minister on the occasion.The three day conference, will showcase a well curated Exhibition of Odisha’s glorious past and the transformative present and the aspirational future.
The Conference will deliberate 16 Academic sessions on various topics connected to Odia language, literature and cultural heritage. There will also be a special session on Jagannath Consciousness.The renaissance of Odia Literature during the Medieval period will be showcased and the Art & Craft Traditions, Dances and Music traditions will be highlighted in the conference which will not only deliberate on this issue but also will give a glimpse of initiatives being taken to take Odia Language to the World at large.