Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the reprinted edition and digital version of ‘Barnabodha’, the iconic Odia primer written by Bhaktakavi Madhusudan Rao, at an event organized by the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department.
Speaking at the event held at Krushi Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, the Chief Minister lauded Madhusudan Rao’s contribution to Odia language and education, stating that ‘Barnabodha’ played a crucial role in reviving Odisha’s cultural and linguistic identity at a time when both were struggling for stability.
The Odisha government has set a target of printing 10,000 copies of ‘Barnabodha’ this year to ensure that future generations continue to learn from it. The Chief Minister emphasized that re-publishing the book on Madhusudan Rao’s birth anniversary is a fitting tribute to the legendary poet.
He described ‘Barnabodha’ as the foundation of Odia language learning, noting that it simplifies Odia alphabets, colors, consonants, word formation, and sentence construction for young learners. He further stated that the book, first published in 1895, quickly became a household staple, with eight editions released between 1895 and 1901 due to its immense popularity.
Highlighting its continued relevance, the Chief Minister said, “We have all grown up reading ‘Barnabodha’. There is no alternative to it for learning Odia in its purest form.” He compared Madhusudan Rao’s teaching approach to today’s ‘Joyful Learning’ method, which uses pictures, toys, and examples to make learning engaging for children. He credited Rao as the pioneer of this method, which remains a cornerstone of modern primary education.
He also acknowledged the contributions of linguists and scholars such as Kailash Chandra Tikayat Ray, Dash Benhur, Baishnab Charan Mohanty, Haraprasad Mishra, and Santosh Kumar Rath in bringing out the new illustrated edition of the book.
Deputy Chief Minister Parvati Parida emphasized that Madhusudan Rao introduced the first ‘smart book’ for children, long before the concept of smart classrooms. She noted that his work not only made learning enjoyable but also played a significant role in creating awareness through literature.
