Odisha Forum Seeks Odia School, Cultural Centre in Delhi

A delegation from Odisha Forum, Delhi, met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan to present long-standing demands for language and cultural preservation. Led by chairperson Gokul Patnaik, the eight-member team requested establishment of an Odia cultural centre and an Odia-medium school in Delhi.

The proposed school would enable primary children from Odia families residing in the national capital to learn their mother tongue. According to Patnaik, President Murmu was appreciative of the suggestions and advised the forum to make a formal representation regarding these demands.

The forum has been pursuing these initiatives to promote Odia language and culture among the diaspora community in Delhi. The delegation also discussed other matters including Rath Yatra traditions and UNESCO recognition, but the establishment of educational and cultural infrastructure for Odia language preservation remained a central focus of their representation.