Bhubaneswar: Many eminent personalities, including recipients of Padma and Sahitya Akademi awards, will be felicitated at the first World Odia Language Conference, scheduled to be held in Odisha capital here from February 3 to 5.
The three-day-long conference will be held Janata Maidan in the capital city here.
Many eminent personalities, including those having contributions to the field of literature and art will be felicitated at the conference, said a senior official today.
Noted historian Hermann Kulke and as many as 58 recipients of Padma Awards will be felicitated at the maiden World Odia Language Conference, he added.
Similarly, winners of Sahitya Akademi awards, Saraswati Samman, Moortidevi Award, Jaydev Samman, Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Samman, Atibadi Jagannath Das Samman and Dharmapada award will also be felicitated at the conference.
The past, present and future of Odia language will be discussed at the convention.
The decision to organize the mega conference was taken during the Heritage Cabinet meeting convened on December 19 last year with an aim of popularizing Odia language across the world.
Several eminent linguists and language experts of national and international repute are scheduled to participate in the conference.
Students from across the state will be involved in the conference and a special emphasis will be given to popularize Odia language amongst youngsters for effective preservation of the mother tongue, sources said.
