16th Foundation Day: Central University of Odisha Plans Tribal Library & Museum Among Several Initiatives

Sunabeda (Odisha): President Droupadi Murmu congratulated the Central University of Odisha (CUO) community which celebrated its 16th Foundation Day on August 29 at its main campus here in Koraput district.

Odisha Governor Raghubar Das, Union Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and UGC Chairman Prof. M Jagdesh Kumar were among other eminent figures to send congratulatory messages to CUO.

CUO Vice-Chancellor Prof. Chakradhar Tripathi unfurled the university flag and presided over the programme, while Prof. BN Ramesh, IPS (Retd), former DGP of West Bengal, delivered the Foundation Day lecture.

Speaking on the topic ‘Institutions, Governance and Excellence: The Role of Youth in/for Bharat-2047’, Prof. Ramesh said that historically India was the strongest country in the world.

“We had leading universities which provided education to the world. Now the situation has changed, but we have to revive the old education system to unify India. Before Independence, we had great philosophers and scholars who were like institutions. After Independence, many IITs, IIMs and other institutions opened and provided education to the society. Universities are also important temples of learning,” Prof. Ramesh said.

He stressed that just building an institution is not important, but it’s important to build a leader from that institution who will lead with the aim for a developed India. He urged educational institutions to work with other organisations for a better future for India.

The Vice Chancellor said that CUO has been growing as an institution for 15 years thanks to the help of local community and society.

“The university has achieved a lot and still has a lot to achieve,” Prof. Tripathi said.

He said CUO will try to open a tribal museum and library to spread knowledge on tribal culture.

The university will also take the initiative in employing tribal youth through eco tourism after providing them training.

The University has started started the Hindi Sakhyarata Abhiyan though which the local people can learn Hindi and move outside the state for business.

CUO will soon launch Odia Sakhyarata Abhiyaan, the VC informed.

To promote Odia literature throughout the country, the university will take the initiative to translate the works of eminent writers like Fakir Mohan Senapati, Gopabandhu Das, Bhima Bhoi, Madhusudan Das and others.