Sambalpur University, with the aim to give insight into and popularise the history, language, art and culture of Western Odisha, is all set to publish an Odia book, ‘Paschim Odisha ra Parichaya’.
Ashok Kumar Dash, editor of the book said the 300-page book will provide an introduction into the explored and unexplored panorama of Western Odisha. Dash who was Odia professor at the university, now retired, also claimed that the book will provide information which has not been carried by any gazetteer so far.
The book is to have 20 topics including history and geography of the region, temples, language, folk song and folk tales, the significance of local fairs, festivals, tribal culture, flora fauna and medicinal plants, food and jewellery of the region.
One of the sections of the book, describes the history of Western Odisha during the British invasion and the link between Western Odisha and Kosala.
The university in its last syndicate meeting had sanctioned Rs 1 lakh for publication of the book. The university had invited a number of scholars and researchers studying on the respective topics to contribute on different topics. The compilation of the book started a year back, and work on it has reached the final stage now.
University Vice-Chancellor Deepak Kumar Behera said the book will comprise accounts of eminent researchers and scholars like Dadhibaman Mishra, Jagdish Mishra, Kumud Ranjan Panigrahi, Manoranjan Pradhan, Dwarika Nath Naik, Shyam Sundar Dhara, Nrusingh Guru, Ghasiram Mishra, Nimei Ranjan Panigrahi, along with Dash himself who has written about the distinctive language of the region, reports the Indian Express.
The university may also translate the book in English on the basis of its popularity and acceptance by readers, he stated.
Sambalpur, the most prominent district from the western part of Odisha, is known for beautiful Ikat sarees and fabric lengths, rhythmic tribal and folk dances and music and a very lyrical dialect spoken by the people of the said region.
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