The State Government should revive the land near river Mahanadi under Dampada tehsil referred to in the Chha Mana Athaguntha novel by Fakir Mohan Senapati and give it the status of memorial. Besides, the proposed Odia language University should be established on the land, said the intellectuals here.
Former Minister Panchanan Kanungo suggested that the Odisha Government should give proper recognition to the land described in Fakir Mohan’s novel like the Tamil Nadu Government which has turned the birth place of Malayalam poet Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan to a tourist place. He said that establishing the language University on the land would be a befitting tribute. Besides, he said that the location would be convenient from all points of views like communication and connecting the dialects and cultures of different parts of the State. He also demanded execution of the library Bill lying unused for the last 16 years.
Eminent linguist Dr Debi Prasanna Pattanayak said that the Government should take immediate steps for establishment of the Odia University which can help in the propagation of the Odia language and culture across the globe. He maintained that language universities have been established for Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, which have got classical status.
Food Commission Member and MlA Dr Sipra Mallick hailed the State Government for passing the Bill for establishment of the Odia University and hoped that it would pave way for more studies and researches in Odia language, literature and culture. Among others, Institute of Odia Studies and Research secretary Dr Subrat Pristi, director Prof Bajendra Prasad Das spoke. Social worker Sudarshan Das thanked all MlAs and particularly those who took ab active role for the passage of the Odia language University Bill in the Assembly recently.