Bhubaneswar: Odisha has received a significant boost in the preservation and promotion of India’s classical languages, with the Central University of Odisha in Koraput selected to host a Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Pali.
The Ministry of Education, through its Department of Higher Education and Language Division, approved the establishment of five Centres of Excellence for Classical Languages in an Office Memorandum dated October 1. The centres will focus on academic research, digitisation, preservation and dissemination of the heritage of the respective languages.
Under the decision, the Central University of Odisha will host the centre for Classical Pali, while the Central University of Gujarat will host the centre for Classical Prakrit. Tezpur University in Assam will host the Centre of Excellence for Classical Assamese, while Visva-Bharati University in West Bengal has been selected for Classical Bengali. The Centre of Excellence for Classical Marathi will be established at Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute in Pune.
The development has been welcomed by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who described the approval of the Classical Pali centre as a proud moment for the state and an important step towards preserving India’s linguistic heritage.
Majhi said the new centre at the Central University of Odisha would strengthen the study, preservation and promotion of Pali, which he described as a language deeply connected with India’s intellectual, spiritual and cultural traditions.
The CM also said the initiative would further strengthen Odisha’s contribution to preserving India’s civilisational knowledge and linguistic heritage. He congratulated the Central University of Odisha and everyone associated with the initiative.
The Ministry of Education said the five new Centres of Excellence are being established to strengthen academic research, digitisation, preservation and dissemination of the heritage associated with Classical Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit.
