Abu Dhabi: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik commended the role played by Non-Resident Odias (NROs) in promotion of Odia language, literature and culture abroad.
‘Jhankar’, the annual festival of the NRO community in Abu Dhabi was organised recently in coordination with the Directorate of Odisha Paribar. The Chief Minister addressed the gathering on the ninth annual festival through a video message.
The NROs are enhancing the glory of the country and Odisha through their skills in various fields, he said.
Shri Patnaik said that direct flights from Odisha to Dubai have created new opportunities for trade and tourism with the Gulf States.
Odisha today has created new chapters of development in various sectors. The Chief Minister called upon the people to join in building a strong Odisha and take the glory of the State to a new height.
Tourism and Culture Minister Ashwini Kumar Patra who attended the event as the chief guest, said that the mutual and bilateral relations between India and the UAE are very old and strong.
About 35 lakh Indian nationals residing in the UAE are contributing to the development of the country, while the role of NROs in the progress of Odisha is also commendable, he said.
Direct flights from Odisha to the Gulf countries have further strengthened the connection of NRO with their motherland, the Minister said.
Satyabrata Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture, attended the function as a Distinguished Guest and said that the relations between the Odisha and the NROs are very strong.
Despite living abroad, Odisha language and traditions have been kept intact among themselves, he said.
“Almost more than 2000 years old, our language is very sweet and cultured. Our language received classical status on March 11, 2014. All newspapers and magazines of Odisha are now available online. In addition, Odisha Virtual Academy has digitised many old and rare books and made them available online,” the ACS Shri Sahu said.
Shri Sahu advised the NROs to read Bhagavat, an ancient text of Odisha written by Shree Jagannath Das, and also read newspapers and magazines available online.
Since the establishment of Odisha Paribar Directorate, ACS Culture Shri Sahu said, the State Government has been standing by and supporting the interests of the Odias living abroad.
In addition, Shri Sahu mentioned that the Directorate of Odisha Paribar is working towards the promotion of Odia language, literature and music.
On this occasion, the Deputy Chief Mission of the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, A. Amarnath, Councilor Balaji Ramaswamy, Sai International School Chairperson Shilpi Sahu, Ajman University’s Debabrata Panigarahi, Odisha Sangeet Natak secretary Prabodh Rath attended the event.
Mausumi Mohanty, President of the NRO Society, delivered the welcome speech while Secretary Prashant Sahu offered the vote of thanks.
Classical and folk dance artists from Odisha along with singers and film actors and actresses performed entertainment programs on this occasion.