Bhubaneswar, Nov 26: Odisha Governor Raghubar Das and Chhattisgarh Governor Bishwabhushan Harichandan on the occasion of the Constitution Day inaugurated the Odisha Research Center (ORC) here in Bhubaneswar.
Joining here as one of the guests, Union Minister for Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan said, the Odisha Research Centre will be a hub for intensive study and research of the rich history, culture and heritages of Odisha.
Elaborating the commendable jobs of the artistes who crafted the glorious Sun Temple at Konark Pradhan said, "To review our prosperous, accomplished, and glorious Odia society, one has to explore the scientific reasons and the basic principles of the process behind the stone carvings of the angular temples made by Odisha's sculptors. These feats could not have been possible if the Odia race had not been accomplished and visionary. The Odisha Research Center will support in studying the whole point of view and basic principles,"
On his keynote address on the 'Knowlege and Tradition of Odisha', Union Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Pradhan said priority has been given to multidisciplinary education through IITs and IIMs under the PM Narendra Modi's vision, the National Educational Policy.
Pradhan also said, Odisha which is a treasury of diverse arts and cultures, was prosperous before the Kalinga War. Odisha had a Maritime-based economy at that time. Konark temple's art contains many scenes of maritime movement with giraffe motifs, providing deep evidence of the the ancient Kalinga's rich maritime ties with regions of both Southeast Asia and Africa. Some historians also suggest that our state used to supply elephants to foreign countries in the past. Odangagarh in the Tirtol area of Jagatsinghpur district reveals the 3,000-year-old civilization of Odisha.
Pradhan also said the Laxmi Purana, written by Balaram Das signifies women empowerment and Swachhata in Odisha in earlier centuries. He said the Mahima cult, groomed from Odisha and the precious verses and sonnets of Santhakabi Bhima Bhoi have enlightened the entire world with its universal essence.
"Due to the lack of adequate scopes for research, sizeable evidence on the rich and glorious history, culture and traditions of Odisha, the achievements and repositories of the ancient state have been fading away and remaining limited to folklore and legends. The Odisha Research Centre inaugurated today, will be a milestone to study, propagate and conserve the rich cultural heritages of the state, added Pradhan.
