1st World Odia Language Conference Tomorrow, CM Naveen Appeals to Make it Successful

Bhubaneswar: The three-day maiden World Odia Language Conference (Biswa Odia Bhasha Sammilani) will have its grand opening on February 3 in Odisha’s capital Bhubaneswar.

This first-of-its-kind international conference to promote Odia language and culture was approved at a meeting of Heritage Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on December 19, 2023.

The chief minister on Tuesday appealed to all stakeholders to make the conference a grand success. He has directed the Odia Language, Literature and Culture department to coordinate with all concerned for the smooth conduct of the event.

“The World Odia Language Conference will reflect the unique identity of our language. It will deliberate on how to further popularise Odia as a classical language. It will attempt to attract the young generation of the state to adopt the language in various technical applications in present time,” he said.

Eminent linguists and language researchers from around the world will deliberate on antiquity and continuity of Odia language in the three-day conference. “Besides discussing the origin, development and spread of the language, the experts will also make fact-based presentation on the outline on its history, present and future,” he added.

The Odia language conference will subsequently be held at the state, national, and international levels. Several eminent linguists and language experts of national and international repute will be invited to the theme-based conference.