The 89th Utkal Divas, commemorating the creation of a separate Odisha state on linguistic basis on April 1, 1936, was observed at Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA) on Monday.

Led by the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Deans of different institutes, faculty, senior officials and staff members paid floral tributes to the memory of Utkal Gaurab Madhusudan Das, Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das, Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo, Vyasakavi Fakir Mohan Senapati, poet Gangdhar Meher and Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab, who were the architects of Odisha becoming a separate state.

Recalling the contribution of these leaders, Prof. Nanda said it was the responsibility of all to strive to make Odisha a developed state by 2036.

Speaking at a discussion on the state’s progress, Prof. Nanda said scores of Odias had made huge contribution in various fields including art and culture, literature, science and technology, industry, education and sport over the decades.

Among others, Prof. Sitikantha Mishra, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. Manjula Das, Controller of Examination, Prof. Manas Kumar Mallick, Director, Institute of Technical Education and Research, Prof. Santosh Kumar Rout, Dean, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Prof. Brahmadev Pattnaik, Dean, Institute of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Prof. Susant Kumar Chaini, Dean, School of Hotel Management, Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare), Prof. Debajyoti Das, Additional Dean, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prof. Renu Sharma, Additional Dean (Student Affairs), ITER, Mr. Sanjay Kumar Sahu, Director, Legal Affairs, Mr. Sashank Choudhury, HR Officer and Dr. Madhubrata Mohanty, Joint Registrar, shared their views.

It was decided that Odia essay and debate competitions would be held prior to ‘Utkal Divas’ from next year to make the language popular among the students of the university.