The Jatiya Odia Sammilani (JOS) has demanded that Odia language and Odissi music be declared as classical language and classical music.
The demand was voiced at a function held in New Delhi to celebrate the 77th foundation day of the State of Odisha on Monday. Eminent persons who addressed the function assured that they would support the demand.
JOS president and Rajya Sabha member Rama Chandra Khuntia presided over the meeting, where the speakers included Minister of State at PMO V Narayansamy, Union Minister Srikant Jena, AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandez, CWC member in-charge of Odisha Jagdish Tytler, BID MP Baisnab Charan Parida, Union Secretary of labour Mrutyunjay Sarangi, former Secretary of labour Dr laxmidhar Mishra, DG of Customs Debi Prasad Das, Dr Abhay Das, Nagendra Mohanty and Suryamani Khuntia.
The speakers expressed their gratitude to Utkal Gaurab Madhusudan Das, Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das, Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, Fakir Mohan Senapati, Gangadhar Meher, the illustrious sons of Odisha for their roles in formation of the State and protection and development of Odia language.
On the occasion, the JOS felicitated Dr laxmidhar Mishra, Mrutyunjay Sarangi, Dr Subroto Acharya, Dr Hemanta Kar, Dr Anita Panda, Nagendra Mohanty, Maheshwar Rao, Debashish Mohapatra and Arun Das for their contributions in various fields.
ffectIJ_n;@ IJB text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; ">‘It should be Odisha, not Utkal Divas’