Odia script's ancient roots celebrated at Odisha State Museum

Editor Editor
Sep 22, 2024 - 19:31
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Odia script's ancient roots celebrated at Odisha State Museum

Bhubaneswar, Sept 22: More than 50 heritage enthusiasts from across Odisha gathered today for an interactive session of "Aithihyara Ante" (Beyond Heritage) at the Odisha State Museum, centered around the theme "Maa Bhasa, Maati Bhasa" (Language of the Mother and Motherland).

This edition focused on the evolution and development of the Odia script and language. Participants, including young and veteran researchers, engaged in discussions about the Odia script’s unique heritage. The venue, the Odisha State Museum, provided an ideal setting with its vast collection of ancient inscriptions, copper plates, and palm-leaf manuscripts.

The eighth edition of "Aithihyara Ante" explored the museum's rich epigraphic treasures. Experts from the museum, alongside heritage enthusiasts, discussed the historical significance of the Odia language, contributing to a lively and insightful session. The event began at 10:30 am in the museum's lawns and concluded in the auditorium by 1:30 pm with a short documentary on palm-leaf manuscript conservation.

Notable young researchers like Soumya Ranjan Panda, Swetak Abhishek Mohapatra, Bishnu Mohan Adhikari, and Prateek Pattanaik discussed the Odia script’s development, while renowned linguist Dr. Subrat Kumar Prusty emphasized the script's distinct identity and ancient roots dating back to the 3rd Century BC.

Bishnu Mohan Adhikari, an independent researcher, called for efforts to repatriate the "Urjam Inscription," the earliest known Odia inscription, currently housed in a museum in Chennai.

Participants also toured the palm-leaf conservation wing, learning about the preservation techniques used to safeguard these priceless manuscripts. Select manuscripts were displayed for attendees to witness the results of the museum’s meticulous conservation efforts.

The "Beyond Heritage" initiative has previously explored topics such as temple architecture, martial heritage, and maritime history, with a future episode planned at the Sun Temple in Konark.