Naveen Patnaik lays foundation stone of Odia University

BHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday laid

foundation stone

of the proposed

Odia University

at Satyabadi in Puri district on the birth anniversary of

Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das

.


The proposed university would come up at a place close to the

Bakulabana Vidyalaya

, established by the famous Panchasakha (five comrades) in 1909 that had played an important role in Indian freedom struggle.

“Odisha is the first language-based state in the country. It is a matter of pride for me to lay foundation stone for the Odia university on the birth anniversary of Utkalmani,” Naveen said while addressing a gathering.

Stating that the Bakulabana was the seat of

Odia renaissance

, Naveen said the proposed varsity would take forward the renaissance further. “It will start a new era in popularization and promotion of Odia language, literature and culture. It will bring back glory of the past when the people of Odisha excelled in every fields,” he added.

The state government would also revive the ancient school that was established to improve the educational system, to infuse patriotism among students through education and to teach them the value of service to mankind during the pre-independence period.

Before laying foundation stone, Naveen offered floral tribute to the Panchasakhas--Pandit Gopabandhu Das, Acharya Harihar Das, Pandit Nilakantha Das, Krupasindhu Mishra and Godavarish Mishra and planted saplings at Bakulabana and joined plantation programme.

The state government has already earmarked 25 acres of land for the Odia University. Also, Rs 10 crore has been allocated for construction of the varsity.

The proposed varsity would offer post graduate courses in Odia language and literature. It would also offer research activities on literary criticism, evolution of ancient Indian language scripts, historical scripts, archaeology, translation into and from Odia, tribal language studies, regional language studies, archeology and classical music.

Odisha became the fourth state in country after Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh to have a special university for development of its language and literature.

After implementation of the Odisha Official Languages Act, 1954, establishment of the Odia University is the second major initiative by the Naveen Patnaik government for promotion of Odia language and literature. In February 2014, Odia ‘classical language’ tag after Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.

Criticizing Naveen, senior BJP leader Biswabhusan Harichandan said the state government should take steps to revive the Odia chairs in Utkal University.

Ridiculing the chief minister, state Congress president Niranjan Patnaik tweeted, “I thank the CM for laying the foundation stone of Odia University. I hope that he enrolls there soon to learn Odia.”