Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who is often criticised for not being fluent in Odia, has decided to organise the First World Odia Language Conference 2024 on a grand scale from February 3. The conference will continue till February 5.

The Odisha government on Wednesday gave details of the objectives and the programme of the conference. “The First World Odia Language Conference 2024 is a celebration of the antiquity and continuity of Odia, which is one of the six classical languages of India,” said Odia language literature & culture minister Ashwini Patra.

The conference will have a special session on Jagannath Consciousness.

“A session on future aspects and opportunities for the Odia language will be discussed in the session, named: Odisha @2036: A Space for Tomorrow”, will be held. Sixteen academic sessions on various topics connected to Odia language, literature and cultural heritage will be held,” Patra said.

The minister, accompanied by the department secretary Sujata R. Karthikeyan and I and PR secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh told reporters that many international scholars like Padmashree Prof. Herman Kulke, Prof. Uwe Skoda, Prof. Arlo Griffiths, Prof. Annette Achmiedchen and many nationally reputed scholars will participate in the deliberations.

Dr Debiprasanna Pattanayak whose name was announced on Wednesday for the conferment of the First World Odia language award, will be felicitated by the chief minister during the conference for his contribution to Odia language and linguistics.

“The conference will showcase a well-curated exhibition of Odisha’s glorious past, the transformative present and the aspirational future. The exhibition is organised on three broader themes and timelines namely — ancient, medieval and modern,” said Patra.

In the exhibition, the evolution and development of Odia language & script; Ancient Rock Edicts Copperplate, Palm Leaf Manuscripts, Kalinga Style of Temple Architecture, Maritime and Trade contacts of Odisha will be highlighted with artifacts, paintings etc.