Aswini Kumar Patra was recently inducted into the Naveen Patnaik Ministry and assigned the portfolios (independent charge) of Excise, Odia Language Literature and Culture and Tourism. Cool, calm and poised, he lends his ears to one and all with patience. With a PG degree with LLB to his credit, he was a lawyer and a member of the Balasore Bar Association, but he opted for a political career. He opened his innings to the State Assembly in 1990 from the Jaleswar constituency on a Janata Dal ticket when Biju Patnaik was the Chief Minister. He was elected from the same constituency in 2004 on a BJP ticket. He was elected from Jaleswar on a BJD ticket in 2014 and re-elected in 2019. Pragmatic and practical, he is committed to catapult Odisha tourism to dizzy heights. In an interview to The Pioneer, Patra spoke to Sugyan Choudhury on many relevant issues pertaining to his departments as a Minister.
How do you feel being given a berth in the Ministry?
I feel happy. I am thankful to our leader Naveen Patnaik for having trusted me to look into the administration of the departments.
Odisha is bestowed with 400 km of sylvan shores, ideal eco-retreats, hill stations, lakes and whatever the tourists look for. But the data reveal that less than 1% of tourists visiting India come to Odisha. What could be the reasons?
The fall in the graph of visiting tourists is mainly due to the effect of Covid-19, but after the situation has shown signs of improvement, the number of tourists is gradually increasing. I am sure the beauty of our bewitching seashores, hilltops as you have pointed out shall unmistakably improve the tourism scenario.
What are the plans to invite private investors and entrepreneurs to the tourism sector?
This is of course a new concept of our Hon’ble Chief Minister. I can cite you an example like introduction of houseboats by a private agency at Barkul in Chilika. This is approved by the State Government. Being fully aware of the potential tourism in the State, Hon’ble CM is gearing up the department to take giant strides like inviting world-class hotel chains, water sports, cruise tourism, besides making some airport works operational soon. Many new concepts are gaining momentum and our CM is taking every possible measure to galvanise this very important department since it is a revenue-generating department besides providing suitable jobs to our unemployed youths.
4% of national GDP is accrued owing to tourism. Countries like Sweden are adding a lion’s share to their budget out of tourism. It is a pity that Odisha tourism is not getting its desired place, for which the Government is lagging behind. What is your response?
This is true of course. But we are taking every possible step for earning enviable foreign exchange through Odisha tourism. An airport in Puri is shortly going to be functional. As you know, a large number of tourists visited Puri during the Car Festival of Lord Jagannath. All the hotels, Pantha Nivases were booked by them. They have also expressed their satisfaction over the ideal arrangements made by the Department of Tourism. We shall try to explore all possibilities to make Odisha tourism more vibrant.
Odia language got its classical tag as one of the six ancient languages of India. It is over 2,000 years old.But the proposal for establishment of an Odia University is suffering from inertia and getting delayed. What’s your opinion?
An Odia University is a dream project of the State Government. The Department of Culture is gearing up towards achieving this project with the consultation and guidance of Hon’ble CM. The department is working with enthusiasm to achieve this mission.
What steps are been taken by the Culture Department to preserve, protect and defend Odia language and culture in the border areas of Odisha like Baleswar adjacent to West Bengal and the border areas with Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and places like Kotia near the Andhra Pradesh border?
The Government of Odisha is well-aware about such issues. I have my own experience in this regard since I come from such an area adjacent to West Bengal. In these border areas of WB, people speak Odia, but they read Bengali. In Odisha, we are providing teachers to teach Bengali, Telugu languages, but in our counterpart States they do not provide the same opportunity to Odia language. The Odisha Government is taking steps in this regard. Besides, organisations like Utkal Sammilani are opening of Chatasalis with a view to imparting Odia language teaching with the support of our Government. Odia organisations in these border areas are keeping us informed in this regard from time to time.
The great Odia classical books need to be digitalised in order to reach the global scenario. What steps are going to be taken in this regard?
Digitalisation of great Odia classical books is the need of the hour to reach Odias living outside our country. The greatness of Odia language and literature will be known to the outsiders as well. Steps have already been taken up in this regard; and we are committed to achieving this hard task in course of time.
You are a representative from Baleswar district. An all-time great Sanskrit scholar of India, Sreedhar Swami, who hails from Remuna in the district and whose translated works are being taught at German universities, is being safely forgotten in Odisha, more particularly at his birthplace in Baleswar. How would your Government atone for it?
I frankly admit that very little has been done in this regard. Sreedhar Swami was an illustrious son and an all-time great Sanskrit scholar of India, whose books are taught to students of Sanskrit and comparative religion studies across the world. As a prophet is not honoured in his own country, the great Swami has been forgotten in his home State Odisha and at his birthplace Baleswar except that his birthday is being observed every year by the Department of Culture at Remuna. I will look into this matter; I will have more research on this great scholar, who was the Shankaracharya of Puri in 15th century. Thereafter, we shall leave no stone unturned to do whatever is possible in his hallowed memory.