We should respect our mother, mother land and mother tongue and we should protect it,” said the speakers on the occasion of International Mother language Day on Sunday.
The Bhasa Suraksha Sammilani observed the International Mother language Day at its State office. Sammilani president MP Baishnab Parida chaired the meeting and requested all to unite for protection of Odia language like the Bengalis of East Pakistan, who fought to save their Bengali language from Urdu, irrespective of all party lines.
Prof Nityananda Satapathy said time has come to protect and promote the mother tongue in the globalised world.
linguist Dr Basant Kumar Panda remembered the contributions of Madhubabu, Fakir Mohan, Gangadhar Meher and Gauri Shankar towards the Bhasa Andolan. There is a historical need of Odia Bhasa Suraksha Andolan, he added.
Dr Bijay Samal, Mayadhar Nayak and Dr Bijay Mohanty were present in the meet demanded to discuss on the Orissa Official language Act, 1954 in the coming assembly session.
Sammilani secretary Natabar Mohanty gave vote of thanks. Amitav khilar and Nilamadhab Sahu coordinated the programme.