Bhubaneswar: Odisha Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati has called for concerted efforts to develop Odia as a language of knowledge, skills, innovation and opportunity, stressing that the empowerment of a language goes beyond merely speaking it.
The Governor made the remarks while addressing a state-level seminar titled ‘Ama Bhasha – Ama Garba and Vision for Developed Odisha@2036’, organised by socio-cultural and literary organisation Bishwamukti at Jayadev Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
On the occasion, the Governor unveiled ‘Uthibaki Jatira Kankala’, a collection of poems authored by Law, Excise and Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, and congratulated him on the publication.
Kambhampati said quality educational resources in Odia, particularly books on technical, scientific and professional subjects, need to be made widely available. Laws, government schemes and important official documents should also be translated into simple and accessible Odia, he said.
Such efforts, according to the Governor, would particularly benefit students from Odia-medium schools by helping them understand subjects more easily, acquire knowledge and pursue further opportunities.
Describing language as more than a means of communication, Kambhampati said the mother tongue reflects a society’s imagination, values and collective aspirations. It also helps build confidence among children and enables wider participation in knowledge exchange and socio-economic life.
Referring to Odisha’s rich linguistic and literary heritage, the Governor recalled the contributions of Jayadeva, Sarala Das and Upendra Bhanja. He described the formation of Odisha as a separate linguistic province as a historic achievement and said every generation has a responsibility to protect, enrich and carry forward the state’s linguistic and cultural heritage.
As Odisha moves towards the goal of Developed Odisha@2036, Kambhampati called for transforming Odia into a dynamic language of knowledge and innovation. Modern technology, digital platforms and artificial intelligence, he said, can play an important role in making Odia more relevant and accessible to younger generations.
The Governor also emphasised the need to ensure equal opportunities for students from Odia-medium schools in higher education, professional fields and emerging technologies. He welcomed the emphasis placed on mother-tongue-based education under the National Education Policy 2020.
Among others, Prithviraj Harichandan; Higher Education, Sports and Youth Services and Odia Language, Literature and Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj; Bhubaneswar (Ekamra) MLA Babu Singh; writer and speaker Professor Archana Nayak; and writer and academic Biswaranjan addressed the seminar. Bishwamukti editor Professor Shashank Chudamani delivered the welcome address
