Bhubaneswar: Bargarh MP Suresh Pujari on Tuesday demanded inclusion of ‘Koshali’ language of western Odisha in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
Raising the issue in Lok Sabha, the BJP leader said though about 1.5 crore people in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand use Koshali language in their speech and writing, it is yet to get due status.
Stating that Koshali language has close proximity to ancient language Sanskrit, Pujari said it has its own grammar, etymology and literature. “Epics like Mahabharat, Ramayan and Srimad Bhagawat Gita have been translated into this language,” he added.
Besides being a popular spoken language, Koshali has permeated cultural world of the region. The language has been used in songs, music, plays and dramas, he added. Litterateur Haladhar who has written in Koshali and singer Jitendra Haribal, who has sung in the language, have been honoured with Padma Shri, the MP said.
Considering all these factors and interest of a large population of western Odisha and its nearby region, Pujari demanded that it is high time Koshali was accorded a language status and included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
