Bhubaneswar: Odia diaspora have a praiseworthy role in the promotion of Odia language, literature and culture abroad, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in a video message on the occasion of the celebration of the ninth annual event of Prabasi Odia Samaj, Abu Dhabi ‘Jhankaar 2023’ organized in association with Directorate of Odisha Paribar.
Patnaik said that the overseas Odias through their efficiency in various fields have raised the prestige of the country and Odisha. Direct flight service from Odisha to Dubai has created new opportunities in the field of commerce and tourism with Gulf countries. Odisha today has created a new chapter of development in various fields, he added.
The Chief Minister called upon the people to join in building a strong Odisha and take the glory of the state to new heights.
Participating in the function as the Chief Guest Tourism, Odia Language and Culture Minister Aswini Kumar Patra said that India’s reciprocal and bilateral relations with UAE are very old and deep.
About 35 million Indian immigrants living here are contributing to the development of our country, while the role of Indian immigrants in the progress of our state Odisha is no less. Direct flights from Odisha to the Gulf countries have further strengthened the connection of immigrant Odias with their motherland.
Similarly, Satyabrat Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture, attended as a distinguished guest and said that the relations between the state and the immigrant Odias are strong.
He said that despite living abroad, they have kept Odisha’s language and traditions intact among themselves. “Almost more than 2000 years old, our language is very sweet and cultured. Our language has received classical status on March 11, 2014. All newspapers and magazines of Odisha are now available online. In addition, Odisha Virtual Academy has virtualized many old and rare books and made them available online,” he pointed out.
Sahu advised the immigrants to read Bhagavat, an ancient text of Odisha written by Shri Jagannath Das and also read newspapers and magazines available online. Since the establishment of the Directorate of Odisha Paribar, the State government has been standing by and supporting the interests of the Odias living abroad.
In addition to this, the Directorate is working for the promotion of Odia language, literature and music, he added.
Deputy Chief Mission of the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi A Amarnath, Counsellor Balaji Ramaswamy, Chairperson Sai International School Dr Shilpi Sahoo, Head of the Department of Medicine, Ajman University Prof Debabrata Panigrahi, Secretary, Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi Prabodh Rath among others attended the event.
Chairperson of Prabasi Odia Samaj Mousumi Mohanty welcomed the guests and Secretary Prasanta Sahu offered a vote of thanks.
