Koraput: A nation can be developed through improvement of the language and culture of the migrants, said former Minister and Jagannath culturist Prasad Harichandan.
He was speaking at the valedictory function of the three-day international conference on “Pravasi Odia Literature” at Sunabeda campus of the Central University of Odisha (CUO), organised by the Department of Odia Language and Literature on Saturday.
He proposed a seven-point programme in this context. “Reservation of space for migrants in magazines, provision of awards, inclusion of migrant literature in textbooks, establishment of e-schools for migrant children, partnership with non-resident Odia organisations, organising Pravasi Odia conferences and collecting Pothis (old manuscripts) from neighbouring countries can contribute to enrich the culture of a community,” he said.
Vice-Chancellor of the university Prof Chakradhar Tripathi, Prof NC Panda, Dean of the School of Languages, students, research scholars and faculty members were present on the occasion.
President of Odia Sahitya Akademi and poet Hrishikesh Mallik, storyteller Kripasagar Sahu, professor Santosh Tripathi, playwright Subodh Patnaik, satirist Laxmikant Tripathi, translator Bijay Kumar Pradhan, critic Khirod Kumar Behera attended the morning session.
Jayshree Nanda from England, Sunanda Mishra from Canada, Lambodar Hota from Kenya, Bibhuti Bhusan Mohapatra from Toronto and Monika Das from Delhi participated in the discussion.
