At the Odisha Literary Festival hosted by the New Indian Express at Mayfair Convention, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi delivered a powerful address celebrating the richness of Odia language and literature while outlining the state’s cultural and developmental roadmap.
Welcoming attendees, Majhi praised the festival as a vital platform for intellectual exchange and literary celebration. He emphasized the historical depth of the Odia language, which received classical status in 2014, and traced its origins to Brahmi script over 3,000 years ago.
The Chief Minister highlighted the contributions of literary icons such as Sarala Das, Panchasakha poets, Jagannath Das, Bhima Bhoi, Fakir Mohan Senapati, and Radhanath Ray, noting how their works shaped Odisha’s cultural identity. He also acknowledged the role of tribal languages like Santali, and the efforts to provide education in mother tongues through the State Curriculum Framework.
Majhi spoke about Odisha’s rapid development under his government, citing major investments, employment generation, and landmark projects like the semiconductor initiative. He revealed that Odisha has secured ₹4,000 crore for two semiconductor units, with NIT Rourkela and Parala Maharaja Engineering College contributing chip designs.
He concluded by urging writers and intellectuals to champion truth, culture, and social consciousness, and expressed hope that such festivals would inspire a literary renaissance in Odisha.
