Paperman Media | Bhubaneswar
The two-day Preparatory Level Envisioning Workshop on developing a State Implementation Plan for the Bharatiya Bhasha Ecosystem concluded today at Utkal University, Vani Vihar. The workshop was organised by Utkal University in collaboration with the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti, Ministry of Education, Government of India, with support from Vidya Bharati Uchcha Shiksha Sansthan, Odisha.
The workshop brought together more than 100 participants from universities and academic institutions across Odisha. The two-day deliberations focused on institutional mapping, identification of requirements and preparation of inputs for the State Implementation Plan through plenary sessions, technical discussions and group work.
Addressing the valedictory session, Shri Akhil Kumar Mishra, Additional Director General, Press Information Bureau and Central Bureau of Communication, Bhubaneswar, highlighted the growing importance of translation in expanding access to knowledge in Indian languages. He emphasised that the increasing demand for translation requires attention to quality, volume and speed. He also highlighted the potential of emerging platforms such as Bhashini, Anuvadini and Udaan in supporting translation efforts. Shri Mishra stressed that technology should complement India’s rich linguistic and oral traditions and contribute to preserving their cultural richness.
Dr. Swati Mishra, Registrar, Utkal University, highlighted the importance of developing quality educational resources in Odia, particularly for students transitioning from Odia-medium schooling to higher education. She emphasised the need to strengthen Indian languages as mediums of knowledge, innovation and research, including in science, technology, medicine, engineering, economics and social sciences.
The workshop also focused on preparing a strategic roadmap for enriching the Odia language and systematically documenting the micro-histories of Odisha, with the objective of creating avenues for integrating indigenous knowledge systems into future academic curricula.
The valedictory session was graced by Prof. Jagneshwar Dandapat, PG Council Chairman, Utkal University; Dr. Swati Mishra, Registrar, Utkal University; Shri Akhil Kumar Mishra, Additional Director General, PIB & CBC, Bhubaneswar; Prof. Rabindra Garada, Head, Department of Sociology, Utkal University; Prof. Gyanaranjan Swain, Gangadhar Meher University; Prof. Sashi Ranjan Akela, Ministry of Education; and Prof. V.R. Gampa, Delhi University. The programme concluded with felicitation of the dignitaries and a vote of thanks by Dr. Tanaya Mohanty, Local Coordinator.
