Odisha signs MoU with JNU to set up Odia chair

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi to set up an Odia chair in the name of one of the great scholars of Odia literature, Adikavi Sarala Das.

The agreement was signed by Culture department Secretary Manoranjan Panigrahi and JNU Vice Chancellor Prof Jagdesh Kumar.

The state government will provide Rs 5 crore to JNU in two phases to set up  Odia chair, said an official.

While the state government would provide Rs 2 crore in the first phase, the remaining Rs 3 crore would be provided in the second phase for setting up the chair.

“The Odia chair will help in promoting Odia language by facilitating research on various aspects of the language, Odisha’s culture, and tradition. The Non-Odias will also come to know about the origins of the language”, said Culture Secretary Manoranjan Panigrahi.

“JNU wants to promote all languages of the country. As an Odia, I feel proud to be present at this momentous occasion. I will try to do whatever is needed to promote our language,” said Chintamani Mohapatra, Rector JNU.