Bhubaneswar, Feb 2: Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today unveiled the republished original edition of the Odia primer Barnabodha, written by 'Bhaktakabi' Madhusudan Rao. The republishing effort, led by the Odia Bhasa Pratisthana—a state government autonomous body under the Odia Language Literature and Culture (OLLC) department—adds color to the original edition without altering its content.
At a ceremony marking Rao's birth anniversary, the Chief Minister called the republishing of the book the highest tribute to the writer. He announced that 10,000 copies of the book would be printed this year for distribution.
First published in 1895, Barnabodha came at a time when the Odia language and community were fighting for recognition and survival. In the primer, Rao elegantly demonstrated how to teach children letters, consonants, words, and sentence formation in a simple and understandable manner, making the book an essential tool for Odia families. Its popularity was evident as it went through eight editions between 1895 and 1901.
Majhi emphasized the enduring value of Barnabodha, stating that even after 130 years, there is still no substitute for the book when it comes to learning pure Odia. He also highlighted the importance of the book in today’s modern educational practices, noting that the approach of teaching through simple language and small verses mirrors today’s use of visuals and examples in primary education to make learning more enjoyable and accessible for children.
The Chief Minister, alongside Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, MLA Babu Singh, and senior officials, also launched a digital edition of Barnabodha and three other books. They further honored the family members of Madhusudan Rao.
