Puri: Odia language, literature and culture must continue to evolve with changing times while preserving the state’s rich literary heritage, Odisha Minister for Odia Language, Literature and Culture Suryabanshi Suraj said on Saturday.
Speaking at the Odisha Sahitya Mahotsav and National Young Writers’ Conference-2026, organised at Shri Jagannath Sanskrit University in Puri, Suraj said Odia language is an integral part of the state’s identity and urged young writers to work towards its protection, promotion and propagation.
The event was organised under the aegis of the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture in collaboration with the Odisha Sahitya Akademi and the Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad.
“Odia language is our identity. The history of Odia literature is rich and its future is bright,” the minister said, adding that generations of writers have enriched the literary tradition of the language.
He said Odia literature had consistently reflected the realities of society, from earlier times to the present era of artificial intelligence.
The Odisha Sahitya Mahotsav has an important role in carrying forward Odia language, literature, culture and traditions, Suraj said, calling upon young writers to continue their efforts to strengthen the literary and cultural heritage of the state.
The conference featured discussions on themes including “The Poetic Diversity of Upendra Bhanja”, “The Distinctive Features of Jagannath Das’s Bhagabata Translation” and “National Consciousness in the Literature of the Twenty-First Century”.
Odisha Sahitya Akademi Secretary Dr Chandra Sekhar Hota, Shri Jagannath Sanskrit University Vice-Chancellor Prof Prabhat Kumar Mohapatra, Odia University Vice-Chancellor Prof Satya Narayan Acharya, Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad president Dr Abhaya Kumar Nayak, general secretary Dr Santosh Kumar Mohapatra and Samanta Chandra Sekhar Autonomous College’s Head of the Department of Odia Language and Literature Dr Dileep Kumar Swain attended the programme.
Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad Secretary Ramakrishna Tripathi proposed the vote of thanks.
