The Odisha Nagarika Samaj (ONAS) in association with the Odisha Samaj Andolan organised a seminar with theme ‘Our State’s language is our official language’ here on Tuesday. linguists, educationists, litterateurs and activists working for protection and promotion of Odia language attended the event and pressed for compulsory use of the regional language at Government and non-Government institutions and compulsory inclusion of Odia subject in all English medium schools.
“Even after accordance of the Classical language status to Odia, it is yet to be recognized as official language in the State due to apathy of the Government,” said ONAS president Prof Jantrana Parikshit. Hence, it was decided in the meeting to launch an indefinite hunger strike from July 1 in demand of recognition of official language to Odia. Among others, freedom fighter Bhabani Charan Patnaik, former vice-chancellor of the Utkal University of Culture Dr Narendra Mishra, former MP Ramachandra Khuntia, former Minister Panchanan Kanungo, columnist Dr Bhabani Prakash and Samaj Andolan Convenor Kulamani Nayak spoke.