Bhubaneswar, March 11: The recognition of Odia as a classical language was not merely a formal acknowledgment but a tribute to its rich corpus of poetry, prose, and philosophical works that have shaped India’s intellectual and cultural landscape, said Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati today.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the national seminar on ‘Classical Language of Bharat: A New Perspective’ at Jayadev Bhavan on Tuesday. The event was organized by the Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Odia (CESCO) in collaboration with Central Institute of Indian Languages, to mark Odia Classical Day.
Wishing the audience in Odia, the Governor praised Odisha’s deep literary heritage.
He highlighted the contributions of great writers and poets, including Jayadeva, whose Gita Govinda has influenced Indian classical dance, music, and literature. He also emphasized the role of Odia literature in historical chronicles, religious texts, and scholarly works that have enriched India's intellectual traditions.
Dr. Kambhampati noted that India’s classical languages—Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, and the recently recognized Pali, Prakrit, Marathi, Bengali, and Assamese—are pillars of India’s cultural identity. He also spoke about the Jagannath tradition, which has played a crucial role in making sacred texts accessible to the masses and strengthening Odisha’s literary and spiritual legacy.
Highlighting the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Governor stressed that promoting mother tongue-based education fosters a strong cultural identity. He emphasized the three-language formula, which allows students to learn a regional language, thereby preserving India’s rich linguistic diversity.
Alongside the Governor, Odia Language, Literature and Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj and eminent writer Pratibha Ray also addressed the gathering, underscoring the need to preserve and promote Odia language and literature. Project Director of CESCO, Professor Basant Kumar Panda, delivered the introductory speech, while Director of the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Shailendra Mohan, gave the welcome address.
As part of the event, three eminent personalities were felicitated for their significant contributions to the Odia language.
