Biju Patnaik Special Centre to be set up at JNU for Odia studies

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today for the establishment of the Biju Patnaik Special Centre for Odia Studies at JNU.

The MoU has been signed in presence of Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Minister Higher Education, Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena, Development Commissioner-cum-ACS Anu Garg and Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Odia Language Literature & Culture Department (OLLC) Sujata R. Karthikeyan.

On behalf of Government of Odisha, Commissioner- Cum- Secretary Higher Education Department Arabind Agrawal & Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit from JNU, New Delhi signed the MoU.

With a generous contribution of the State Government of a one-time non-recurring corpus money for the endowment amounting to Rs 10 Crore, the proposed Biju Patnaik Special Centre aims to delve into the leadership, governance, and contributions of the visionary leader of India, the Bhoomiputra of Indonesia and the former Chief Minister of Odisha, Biju Patnaik. It plans to initiate a Master’s Program covering various facets of Odia Studies, strengthen cultural bonds with the Odisha Diaspora, and promote contemporary Odia Literature and Art.

The focus areas of this Special Centre include international teaching and research in Odia Language and Literature, exploring historical maritime linkages of Kalinga Empire with South east Asia, diasporic connections, and promoting contemporary Odia culture through publications and collaborative research.