Bhubaneswar: Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University Prof Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit today met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Naveen Niwas.
She is in the city for an MoU signing event with JNU for the establishment of the Biju Patnaik Special Centre for Odia Studies.
During the discussion, Prof Pandit admired CM’s transformational initiatives in Odisha that have brought visible changes in every sector of Odisha.
She describes Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik as the finest example of Co-operative federalism.
She appreciated the efforts to promote the Odia language and culture and expand its scope beyond Odisha.
She said the Special Centre at JNU will create favourable conditions for the promotion of Odia language, literature and culture.
Praising Biju Patnaik’s role in the Indonesian freedom struggle, she said Biju Babu single-handedly raised the glory of Odisha to the global level.
She also appreciated the efforts of the chief minister to promote regional languages and culture, developing a pan-Indian identity for them.
The State Govt will provide one-time assistance of Rs 10 Crore for the establishment of the centre.
The Biju Patnaik Special Centre for Odia Studies will start a master’s program for Odia Studies, study Biju Patnaik’s leadership and governance, study Jagannath culture, and pursue manuscriptology of ancient Odia literature.
Higher Education Secretary Arvind Agrawal was present during the discussion.
