Speaking on the final day of the inaugural World Odia Language Conference, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik declared that the conference would take place every five years.
Opining that the first World Odia Language Conference shall remain a milestone forever, the Chief Minister said, “We shall all gather again after five years and exchange opinions on taking the Odia language further ahead”.
Thanking the students, youths, writers, researchers, litterateurs, poets and every Odia who participated in the conference from the core of his heart, the Chief Minister said that during these three days, different aspects of our language have been discussed. Several good proposals have also come, he added.
The CM, however, said that since the Odisha Assembly is in session now, therefore, all the language-related decisions taken here will be announced by him in the Vidhan Sabha.
Opining that the Odia language has carried forward the identity of our Odia race for ages, he called upon all to take a pledge on today’s auspicious occasion to enrich our vocabulary by creating new words in Odia.
Highlighting the impact of scientific knowledge on language, he said that scientific enthusiasm, advancement of technical knowledge and computer language are the big challenges for language in the present age. Therefore, he opined that the Odia language has to be integrated with it.
Calling upon the youth, he said, “I hope that Odia language will be the language of our youth. If we realize the glory of our language, it will surely move forward.”
Everyone has been touched by the museum that was arranged in conjunction with the conference. As a result, he granted everyone’s request and offered an additional three-day deadline extension.
The Chief Minister congratulated all the talents who won prizes.
The Chief Minister published three books during this event. The Hindu Group published “Shree Jagannatha: Lord of the Universe,” which was the first book the CM revealed. The Chief Minister introduced a second book, Odia: Journey of a Language, which was written by Subhranshu Panda and Prateek Patnaik and conceptualized by R Balakrishnan, Chief Advisor (Special Initiatives) in the Chief Minister’s Office. Thirdly, the CM published two versions of the book “Magical Tales From Odisha” in Japanese and German.
5T & Nabin Odisha Chairman VK Pandian and other eminent persons were present during the programme.
Siddhant Kumar Sahu, a class VIII student of Ravenshaw Collegiate School offered the vote of thanks in the programme.