Bhubaneswar, Nov 26: Odisha Governor Raghubar Das and his Chhattisgarh counterpart Bishwabhushan Harichandan jointly inaugurated the Odisha Research Center (ORC) here on the occasion of the Constitution Day today.

Speaking on a topic titled 'Knowlege and Tradition of Odisha', Union Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said priority has been given to multidisciplinary education from IITs to IIMs under the PM Narendra Modi's visionary National Educational Policy.

"To review our prosperous, accomplished, and glorious Odia society, one has to explore the scientific reasons and the basic principles of the process behind the stone carvings of the angular temples made by Odisha's sculptors. These feats could not have been possible if the Odia race had not been accomplished and visionary. The Odisha Research Center will support in studying the whole point of view and basic principles," said Pradhan.

Odisha, home to many arts and cultures, was prosperous before the Kalinga War. Odisha had a port-based economy. Konark temple's art contains many scenes of maritime movement with giraffe motifs, providing deep evidence of the then Kalinga's rich maritime ties with regions of both Southeast Asia and Africa. Some historians also suggest that our state used to supply elephants to foreign countries in the past. Odangagarh in the Tirtol area of Jagatsinghpur district gives pictures of the 3,000-year-old civilization of Odisha.

He said Laxmi Purana written by Balaram Das signifies women empowerment and Swachhata in Odisha in earlier centuries. He said the Mahima cult and messages of Santhakabi Bhima Bhoi have enlightened the entire world.

He spoke on the Odia food and the age-old culture and tradition of Odisha.

"Due to the lack of proper research and evidence, the rich and glorious history of Odisha has been limited to folklore. The Odia Research Centre inaugurated today will bring to the fore the basic truth of the Odia society with data," said Pradhan.

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