Graduates demand appointment of Odia teachers in schools outside Assembly on Bhasha Divas on Wednesday.

The day also saw littérateurs and linguists analyse the possibilities for the development of the language that was conferred the classical status last year.

The Utkal University of Culture hosted an event where eminent linguists and authors took part.

Linguist Debi Prasanna Patnaik, Khageswar Mohapatra, vice-chancellor of the culture varsity Debendranath Jena and many others attended the event.

"As proposed last year, the process of setting up a centre of excellence for Odia is under way. A committee comprising linguists, eminent writers and other experts are planning the details," said Satakadi Hota, well-known author and the president of Odisha Sahitya Akademi.

State culture minister Ashok Panda said a few sites had been considered for the centre and the construction might begin by the end of this year.

The Centre had allotted Rs 100 crore for research and development of the language last year.

A number of dictionaries and academic books will also be published in Odia for higher studies. "The first lexicographer of Odia, Gopal Chandra Prahraj had compiled 1,70,000 words in the Purnachandra Bhashakosh, but today most dictionaries have only 50,000 words. When we don't have good dictionaries and books on technology and science for higher studies, then why blame youngsters for not following Odia language," said Hota.

The Odia Bhasha Pratisthan also hosted a seminar while the state culture department, along with the Odisha Sahitya Akademi, organised a programme At Jaydev Bhavan.

Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee