Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday inaugurated the first Biswa Odia Bhasa Sammilani (World Odia Language Conference) at Janata Madan in Bhubaneswar to celebrate the language and rich cultural history of Odisha.
The inaugural programme started with the State anthem, ‘Bande Utkal Janani’. The government has also urged all Odias, including those residing outside the state and country, to join in singing the state anthem.
The three-day event will see over 10,000 people, including linguists, scholars, researchers and students, deliberating on Odia language and literature from ancient period and its relevance in future while providing a glimpse into initiatives being taken to spread the language globally. It includes showcasing an Odia Virtual Academy, plans for increasing pages of Odia in Wikipedia and Odia fonts.
International scholars like Hermann Kulke, Uwe Skoda, Arlo Griffths, Annette Schmiedchen along with several national scholars will participate in the deliberations. Discussion on development of Odia language through the ages will also be held.
