World Odia Language Award Conferred on Eminent Linguist Dr Debi Prasanna Pattanayak

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will bestow the inaugural World Odia Language Award upon distinguished Odia linguist Dr Debi Prasanna Pattanayak. The ceremony, scheduled to take place during the first World Odia Language Conference, will include the presentation of a citation and a prestigious award amounting to Rs 20 Lakhs.

Dr Debi Prasanna Pattanayak, renowned for his extensive research and profound contributions to the Odia language, has played a pivotal role in enriching its linguistic landscape. As the founding director of the Indian Institute of Languages, he has garnered acclaim and was honored with the Padma Shri for his unwavering commitment to the development of Indian languages. His noteworthy efforts also contributed to the grant of classical status to the Odia language.

The selection committee, constituted by the Odisha Government and comprised of eminent individuals like G. Uma Maheshwar Rao, President of The Indian Language Council, Prof. Sabita Pradhan, Vice-Chancellor of Odia University, Prof. P. K. Swain, Vice-Chancellor of Utkal University of Culture, and Prof. Basanta Kumar Panda, Project Director of Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Odia of the Government of India, unanimously recommended Dr Debi Prasanna Pattanayak for this prestigious award, acknowledging his lifelong dedication to quality research on the Odia language.