Bhubaneswar: In the context of the first World Odia Language Conference being held for three days from 3-5 February 3 to 5 at Janata Maidan, Minister of Odia Language, Literature and Culture, Ashwini Kumar Patra and Secretary Odia Language, Literature and Culture, Sujata Rout Karthikeyan have appealed to make the Ceremony a “Grand Success”.
Shri Patra and Shrimati Sujata addressed a Media Meet. Principal Secretary Information & Public Relations Sanjay Kumar Singh, Director Information & Public Relations Saroj Kumar Samal and Director Odia Language, Literature and Culture, Dilip Routrai was present.
The Minister has requested for the wholehearted cooperation of the Odia brothers and sisters living within and outside the state to make the global conference, which is being held under the guidance of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, a success.
Secretary Shrimati Sujata gave detailed information about the contours, objectives and various programmes to be organized.
The conference will be attended by a number of internationally renowned scholars- Padma Shri Prof. Harman Kulke, Prof. Uwe Skoda, Prof. Arlo Griffiths, Prof. Ante Schmedichen and many national-level scholars.
Dr. Debi Prasanna Pattanayak will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to Odia language and linguistics.
Apart from this, Jnanpith award winners, Padma Awardees, Sahitya Akademi awardees, Kabir Samman awardees, State Academy’s highest award winners are also being honoured.
The conference will showcase a well-crafted exhibition of Odisha’s glorious past and changing present and inspiring future. The exhibition is organized on three broad themes and timelines i.e. ancient, middle and modern.
The exhibition will showcase the origin and evolution of Odia language and script, ancient stone archives, copperplates, palm leaf pothis, Kalinga-style temple architecture, paintings related to Odisha’s naval trade through beautiful paintings.
A renaissance of medieval Oriya literature will be on display. Odisha’s art and sculpture, dance and music traditions will be on display.
The arrival of the printing press and its impact on the spread of Odia language will be displayed along with appropriate artworks and photographs. Contemporary newspapers, magazines and modern thinkers will be showcased.
The present era is driven by science and technology. The Odia language and literature will meet the challenges of the future by joining hands with the rapidly changing world. This conference will not only deliberate on this issue but will also prove the progress of Odia language towards the larger world.
It will highlight odia virtual academy displays, Wikipedia and Odia fonts. It will showcase her journey towards the digital age of Odia language. A special tribute will be paid to Utkal Gaurav Madhusudan Das on 4 February 2024.
A concept of “Let’s Read” will be showcased through a mobile library, buses and mobile book art to promote reading habits among school children and youth.
Images and oil paintings will be displayed commemorating the contributions of the past’s rich saga. Odia signatures of eminent personalities will be displayed. Postal rooms and information boards will be displayed to make the exhibition more palatable for children.
A full-fledged ‘Konark Ashwa’ statue will be placed at the central site as a symbol. Intellectual sessions and conference programmes will be telecast lively.
An International Literature Festival will be organized by the University of Education and Research at KIIT, Bhubaneswar. A seminar on the role of Odia cinema and stage will be organised by Ravenshaw University along with Odia Film and Theatre Festival.
Apart from this, Ekamra Utsav will be organized in Bhubaneswar city by BDA and BMC. The conference is a collective festival of the people of Odisha. Due to this, various programs, competitions have been organized among the students at the university, college and school level.
A special ‘Gram Sabha’ is being organised in all panchayats interested in Odia language and literary activities to partner with the conference. These programmes will also be conducted at the block level.
Instructions have been issued for paying homage to the statues of eminent personalities and sons of Odisha. The conference is being organized with the active support of all departments, stakeholders, organizations, individuals and volunteers.
In order to commemorate this conference, the State Government has requested the Odia brothers and sisters living in the state and abroad to sing the song “Vande Utkal Janani” simultaneously on February 3 and at 11.30 am on the occasion of the inaugural festival