Bhubaneswar: Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Shantishree Dhulipudi Pandit on Sunday met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Naveen Niwas in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
She is in the city for an MoU signing event with JNU for the establishment of the Biju Patnaik Special Centre for Odia Studies.
During the discussion, Prof Pandit admired the Chief Minister’s transformational initiatives in Odisha that have brought visible changes in every sector of Odisha.
She described Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik as the finest example of Co-operative federalism. She appreciated the efforts to promote the Odia language and culture and expand its scope beyond Odisha.
Prof Pandit said the Special Centre at JNU will create favourable conditions for the promotion of Odia language, literature, and culture.
Praising Biju Patnaik’s role in the Indonesian freedom struggle, she said Biju Babu single-handedly raised the glory of Odisha to the global level.
She also appreciated the efforts of the Chief Minister to promote regional languages and culture and develop a pan-Indian identity for them.
The state government will provide one-time assistance of Rs 10 crore for the establishment of the center.
The Biju Patnaik Special Centre for Odia Studies will start a Master’s programme for Odia Studies, study Biju Patnaik’s leadership and governance, study Jagannath culture, and pursue manuscripts of ancient Odia literature.
Higher Education Secretary Arvind Agrawal was present during the discussion.
