Balangir: Speakers at a seminar here unanimously demanded for introduction of Koshali language from school level. They also sought constitutional status for the language.

The seminar was jointly organised by Koshal Sahitya Sanskruti Academy and Koshal Heritage Trust here on Sunday.

President of the academy litterateur Srinibas Udgata said that it was necessary for the children of the Koshal region to study the native Koshali language right from primary school level.

"Children of the Koshal region cannot have proper intellectual development if they do not study their mother tongue from primary school level. For this, the language must be recognised by the Constitution. Koshali is the mother tongue of the region and government must act pro-actively to grant constitutional status to the language," Udgata said.

He further said that the literature and culture of the Koshal region was very rich, while also pointing out about the huge human resource of the area.

"Koshali culture, tradition and literature is very rich and it is the duty of every Koshali people to safeguard it. For this, we must have our own Koshal state," Udgata said.

Theatre personality and Koshali film actor Atala Bihari Panda claimed that the literary tradition of Koshal region was very different from other parts of Odisha. "Koshali is an entirely different language from Odia and it has its own specialty. We have our culture and tradition which are also different from those in the other parts of the state. Added to this is the huge human resource and minerals that make for the genuine demand for the separate state," Panda said.

Panda has several books of plays and poems in Koshali to his credit. He is also an approved lyricist of All India Radio and has acted in several award-winning Koshali films.

General secretary of the academy Gorekhnath Sahu said that agitation for the separate Koshal state must be intensified. "We have been fighting for the separate state quite for long time now. Now, it must be intensified to achieve the goal," Sahu said.

Ghasiram Mishra, Hari Shankar Badpanda and Atala Bihari Panda were felicitated at the event for their contribution to Koshali language and literature.

Two books namely - Koshali Gita written by Suresh Chandra Panda and Matrubhumi Matrubhasare written by Udgata - were released on the occasion.