Bhubaneswar: A host of distinguished persons and intellectuals of Odisha’s Cuttack city on Friday sought steps for setting up of an Odia University in the silver city. They have petitioned Governor Ganeshi Lal seeking his intervention in this regard.
Noting that the millennium city has been playing a significant role in protecting and promoting Odia language, literature ad culture, they said Cuttack is the right place for establishment of the Odia University.
A memorandum has been submitted to the Governor to press for the demand. The signatories include former director of Higher Education Premanda Mishra, former principal of Ravenshaw University Prabhat Kumar Mishra, former district governor of Rotary Club Ashok Bihari Mohapatra, Dr Soumyaranjan Mishra, educationist Prof Subashini Lenka, Prof Debaprasad Nanda, Prof Basanti Ray, Prof Gyanendra Kumar Sharma, litterateur Sujata Priyadarshini, Aparna Mishra, Sujata Mohapatra, lawyers Biswajit Mohapatra, Natabar Panda, film director Basant Sahu and social activist Akshya Kumar Das.
In the memorandum, they stated that Odia language is neglected in Cuttack, considered the cultural hub of the state, due to political and administrative apathy.
On the other hand, the prominent persons said that steps are being taken to set up an Urdu University in Cuttack while demand for Odia University has evoked lukewarm response.
