On the International Mother Tongue Day as per UNESCO declaration, Kosli Matrubhasa Divas was observed here at a simple ceremony where linguists and litterateurs from Bargarh, Nuapada and Kalahandi districts participated.
The inaugural session was presided over by former professor of Sambalpur University Dr Gopabandhu Behera who appreciated the efforts of Kosal Horizon English weekly for observing the day. Dr Behera hailed the life long struggle of Pandit Prayag Dutta Joshi for recognition of ‘Kosli’ as a separate language.
Sambalpur University has conferred ‘Kosal Ratna’ title on Pandit Joshi, but that is not enough. legends of western Odisha like Dr Bhubaneswar Behera and Prayag Dutta Joshi should have been honoured in more meaningful ways by the university. He lamented that talents were not being recognised and worshipped the way it should.
Welcoming the guests, Kosal Horizon Editor Baidyanath Mishra said that this day is being dedicated to late Prayag Dutta Joshi who incurred the wrath of many in course of his struggle to prove the separate entity of Kosli. Efforts should be made to teach Kosli to students in the primary level. This view was corroborated by Aradhana Nanda, president, FARR when she said students in the nursery level must be taught in their mother tongue. Research scholar Natraj Mohapatra, Kosli poet Manoranjan Sahu, Prof Jatindra Kumar Mund, Suresh Negi and Pratap Chandra Mund among others participated in the discussion. Educationist Umesh Satpatty reviewed Surama Mishra’s book ‘Titi Tian’ written to teach the primary level students while teaching mother tongue based education.
