Members of Utkal Sammilani have been trying to keep the Odia language alive in the neighbouring states such as West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh
BHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s recent statement giving precedence to Odia over Hindi has sparked a debate on Odia identity and pride. Sociologists, language experts and the state’s cultural exponents believe that while identity is very important, it must not be at the cost of modernity and development.
Unlike the southern Indian states, people of Odisha have not displayed any inhibition in accepting Hindi as the medium of communication with non-Odias.
“There is no denying that Odia language is the real identity of Odia people. Without language and script, a community cannot thrive and prosper. We cannot think of our dance, music, sculpture and other aspects of our culture without language. We dream in the language of our soul. Odisha was formed on the basis of language and we must carry forward that legacy. I