Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday released the revised publication and digital copy of pictorial Odia alphabet book, “Chhabila Madhu Barnabodha” in Bhubaneswar.
The chief minister released the book at a function organised to celebrate the birth anniversary of legendary Odia poet Madhusudan Rao who was the original author of the alphabet book. “The new version of the Barnabodha is a fitting tribute to Madhusudan who restored the pride of Odisha at a time when the entire country was struggling to retain its identity,” he said.
Stating that the government would publish 10,000 copies of the book initially, he said, “It (Barnabodha) continues to remain the rudimentary book for everybody, specially children, who want to learn Odia language.”
“Mother, motherland and mothertongue present the true identity of any race. The great poet used to say that anybody who disrespect any of these is ignorant,” he added.
Barnabodha, which was first published in 1895, had 8 editions by 1901 due to immense popularity among Odia students and teachers.
