The year 2014 is a memorable one for Odisha since the Government of India has declared Odia as a Classical language. Thus, Odia now occupies its distinctive pride of place among all the galaxy of other Indian Classical languages, thereby raising the head of every Odia to dizzy heights of glory.
In this context, the much-awaited republication of Bhasakosha of legendary Gopal Chadnra Praharaj assumed most significance, adding new chapters to this great Odia national rejoicing.
The Odia lexican Purna Chandra Bhasakosha, a magnum opus with encyclopaedic proportion, has undergone three consecutive editions by its intrepid publisher Mahendra Mishra of lark Book Publication, Bhubaneswar. Mishra had embarked upon this venture when he brought out its first volume way back in September2006. But his publication works went through a period of hibernation after he was sued in a court of law by a libel suit filed by two members of late author Praharaj’s family. later on, Mishra won the case and brought out the full seven volumes in March 2009. Since then, he has never looked back and the Odia lexican has undergone three nascent editions owing to the roaring demand of the heritage Odia langauge lovers and literatures.
Paying glowing tributes to the all-time great Odia lexican complier Gopal Chadnra Praharaj, Mishra says how the great Praharaj was inspired by his the then British langauge teacher Henderson of Ravenshaw Collegiate School, Cuttack and how the great author undertook strenuous journeys by bicycle, bullcok cart, boats in the dispersed Odia inhabitant areas in order to collect their spoken dialects capturing the subtleties and the delicate nuances of the Odia language. In the process, chill penuries sealed his ways, when the aristocratic lawyer had turned a pauper by lending not only his proud heart but also his prodigal purse for this work leviathan.
This is where kings and commoners, haves and have-nots, wise and illeterates contribute their resources to make Praharaj’s dream come true. Pioneer among them was Maharaja of Mayurbhanj Sriram Chandra Bhnaj, who had lavishly donated to make the endeavour successful.
For that, the masterpiece was christened as Purna Chandra Bhasakosha named after the Maharaja’s late brother. But one thing for certain happened in the life of Praharaj that his premonition of date no longer came true since all the seven volumes got published during his lifetime in 1940.
Mahendra Mishra has taken up where Praharaj had left. Mishra has taken to this gargantuan task with ambitious plans and grandiose enterprises to reach the avid Odia readers locally and globally.
While doing so, Mishra remains absolutely faithful to the original work like a loyal wife. This language lexican with a seven-volume treasure trove studded with 1,85,000 words comprising 9,450 pages with 71 photographs is like a Konark temple of wonder that will start a renaissance among the Odias. The book is available with the lark Book Publication, Bhubaneswar with price tag of RsRs9,600 per set with 15 per cent to 25 per cent discount. The sets can be used as treasure tokens in libraries and can be viewed as an ideal presentation to any near and dear one.