Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has written to the Centre to open an Odia department in Delhi University for promotion and spread of the language among non-Odia speaking population.
In a letter to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJD’s Rajya Sabha member Amar Patnaik said Odia, which was accorded classical language status in 2014, is the sixth language and the first from the Indo-Aryan category to receive the coveted status.
He said while the Delhi University has dedicated departments for Bengali, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu languages, an Odia department is yet to open in the campus. On the other hand, a research conducted by Delhi Odia Students’ Association has found that at least 200 students of the university want to pursue courses in Odia language, he added.
Stating that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has maintained that Odia language is a crucial aspect of Odia identity and self-esteem, the MP said, “I am sure you will agree that every effort must be made to support and empower students who are eager to learn and expand the scope of their culture and language through formal education.”
“Delhi University has at least 61 teachers who belong to Odisha. They will appreciate it if an Odia language department is set up in the university. I, therefore, request you to kindly direct the authorities at Delhi University to initiate steps in this regard,” the MP wrote in the letter.
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