Against the historic background of the Odia language getting Classical status recently, the National Aluminium Company limited (Nalco) celebrated the Utkal Divas with gaiety and regional fervour at Nalconagar here on Tuesday.
The company hosted a variety of programmes including felicitations of eminent individuals to release of an Odia encyclopaedia and Odia Barnabodha CD and other events. Nalco CMD Ansuman Das felicitated noted linguist and Chairman of Institute of Odia Studies & Research Prof Debi Prasanna Pattanayak, who had headed a team that submitted a report advocating Classical language status to Odia.
Das also released book Ame Odia- Edition 3, an encyclopaedia of Odia personalities, written by Nrusingha Charan Sahoo and Odia Barnabodha CD produced by noted music director Shantanu Mohapatra. Sahoo and Mohapatra were also felicitated on the occasion. The company also felicitated chess player Saina Salonika and athlete Duttee Chand with mementoes and cash award of Rs 10,000 each.