Argus News - Odisha Celebrates 'Odia Classical Language Day' with Pride

Bhubaneswar, Mar 11: Odisha today proudly celebrated Odia Classical Language Day, marking the Union Cabinet’s historic 2014 decision to grant Odia the prestigious status of a classical language. This annual observance honours Odia’s rich literary heritage and reinforces its role as a cornerstone of Odisha’s cultural identity.

Odia was recognized as the sixth classical language of India, joining Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. Importantly, it became the first Indo-Aryan language to achieve this distinction, acknowledging its independent evolution, unique script, and unbroken literary tradition spanning thousands of years. Ancient inscriptions such as Pramana Shitalekha and palm-leaf manuscripts (Talapatra) stand as enduring testimony to its antiquity.

Across Odisha, educational institutions hosted seminars, cultural programmes, and discussions to highlight the importance of preserving and promoting Odia. Scholars emphasized the need to safeguard the language’s distinct identity in the face of globalization and to encourage younger generations to embrace its literary treasures.

Also Read: Odisha Parba to Showcase Odia Art, Culture and Cuisine in Delhi

For the people of Odisha, the day is more than a commemoration - it is a reaffirmation of pride in their linguistic heritage. Odia’s recognition underscores its uniqueness, as it bears little resemblance to Sanskrit, Hindi, or Bengali, making it a truly independent branch of India’s linguistic tree.

Political leaders also joined in the celebrations. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, in a post on X, extended greetings and urged citizens to speak, write, and preserve Odia with pride, calling it the lifeline of the nation.

ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରୀୟ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷା ଦିବସର ଶୁଭକାମନା। ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷା ଆମ ଜାତିର ଜୀବନରେଖା। ଏହି ପବିତ୍ର ଅବସରରେ ଆସନ୍ତୁ ଶପଥ ନେବା - ଆମେ ଓଡ଼ିଆରେ କହିବା, ଓଡ଼ିଆରେ ଲେଖିବା ଏବଂ ଆମ ଭାଷାର ଗୌରବକୁ ଅକ୍ଷୁର୍ଣ୍ଣ ରଖିବା। ଜୟ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ, ବନ୍ଦେ ଉତ୍କଳ ଜନନୀ। pic.twitter.com/po9GJgQOS9

— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) March 11, 2026

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan congratulated Odia speaking people worldwide, describing Indian languages as the true identity of “Bharatiyata” and paying tribute to scholars who dedicated their lives to enriching Odia.

‘ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରୀୟ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷା ଦିବସ’ ଅବସରରେ ସମସ୍ତ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷାଭାଷୀ ଭାଇ ଓ ଭଉଣୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ । ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସମେତ ସମସ୍ତ ଭାରତୀୟ ଭାଷା ହେଉଛି ଆମ 'ଭାରତୀୟତା'ର ପ୍ରକୃତ ପରିଚୟ । ଆମର ମାତୃଭାଷା କେବଳ ଭାବ ବିନିମୟର ମାଧ୍ୟମ ନୁହେଁ, ବରଂ ଏହା ଆମ ସଭ୍ୟତା ଓ ସଂସ୍କୃତିର ମୂଳଦୁଆ । ଆଜିର ଏହି ପବିତ୍ର ଅବସରରେ ଆମ ଭାଷାକୁ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ କରିବା… pic.twitter.com/ki3dneJ4AN

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) March 11, 2026

Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also took to social media on the occasion, praising the collective efforts of Odias and honouring the great personalities who contributed to the language’s journey.

ଭାଷା ଆମ ଓଡ଼ିଆ, ସବୁଠୁ ବଢ଼ିଆ। ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷାର ମାଧୁର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଏହାକୁ ସବୁ ଭାଷାଠୁ ଅଲଗା କରିଛି। ୨୦୧୪ ମସିହା ଆଜିର ଦିନରେ ପ୍ରତିଟି ଓଡ଼ିଆଙ୍କ ଉଦ୍ୟମରେ ଆମ ଭାଷା ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରୀୟ ମାନ୍ୟତା ପାଇଥିଲା। ଏହା ପଛରେ ଅତୁଳନୀୟ ଥିବା ମହାପୁରୁଷଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ମୋର ବିନମ୍ର ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି ଜଣାଉଛି। ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷାର ବ୍ୟବହାର ବୃଦ୍ଧି କରି ଏହାର ଆଦର… pic.twitter.com/1bpgcpOolM

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) March 11, 2026

As Odisha celebrates this milestone, the focus remains on ensuring that Odia continues to thrive in modern times while retaining its ancient roots. The observance of Odia Classical Language Day serves as both a tribute to the past and a call to action for the future.