The Institute marked the significant occasion of the State Foundation Day today, April 1, 2024, at B.B. Auditorium, NIT Rourkela, starting from 5:00 pm. A special program was organized by the Utkal Dibasa Celebration Committee, NIT Rourkela, in collaboration with the Odia Sahitya Samaj (OSS) Club at the Student Activity Centre, NITR, to honor the spirit of Utkal Dibasa. Dr. Subrat Kumar Prusty, Member Secretary of the Institute of Odia Studies and Research, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, graced the event as the Chief Guest and delivered a keynote speech on the theme “Utkala Dibasa Resolution: Technical Education in Mother Tongue”.
The event commenced with a Pushpanjali offering to Lord Jagannath and Shraddhanjali Arpan dedicated to all the leaders whose endeavors culminated in the establishment of a distinct Odisha Province in 1936. Subsequently, the gathering reverently sang the state anthem, ‘Bande Utkala Janani’. The programme coordinator, Prof. R.K. Biswal, then briefed on the glory of the state said, “Our existence, identity, and development are grounded by our parents, soil, and mother tongue. When parents communicate in their native language, children naturally learn from them. The soil embodies our history, geography, and economy, and binds our culture and traditions. Our languages facilitate the preservation of indigenous knowledge, folklore, and oral histories, enriching the cultural tapestry of society. Therefore, it is important to embrace our Odia language and culture to transmit cultural values, traditions, and customs from one generation to the next.”
Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao (Director, NIT Rourkela) said while wishing the audience a warm greeting on this auspicious day, “I take great pride in being associated with Odisha, a land rich in culture and heritage. The people of Odisha have upheld the values of inclusiveness and carried forward the legacy of freedom fighters. On the occasion of Utkal Divas, let us shoulder the responsibility of addressing societal challenges and devising innovative solutions. I call upon the youth of Odisha to prioritize incubation and innovation, striving to become job creators and bolster the regional economy and societal development and create Odisha as a start-up Hub.”
Professor Sidhartha S. Jena, Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Rohan Dhiman, Registrar, and Professor Rajeev Kumar Panda, President of the Student Activity Centre, graced the platform, offering their wishes and sentiments to commemorate the occasion. The event also featured the unveiling of the second edition of the “SAMPOORNA” magazine, published by the student club Odia Sahitya Samaja.
