By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:We are moving towards building a prosperous Odisha and a developed Odisha with a decade-long goal from 2026 to 2036. At this time, Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan has called for taking responsibility and encouraging the state to take care of more than 1 crore children of Odisha, provide education in their mother tongue and provide international skills to the youth.
Shri Pradhan today launched the historical novel ‘Dayandiru Niranjana’ written by Padma Bhushan Dr. Pratibha Ray in Bhubaneswar. On this occasion, Shri Pradhan focused on building a developed Odisha by setting goals for the next decade from 2026 to 2036. He said that more than 1 crore children of Odisha, i.e. those who have the responsibility of a developed Odisha on their shoulders, must be taught in their mother tongue to make them brave and self-reliant.
Similarly, there is a need for a social movement in villages for proper care and nourishment of newborn babies. Providing international skills to the youth of Odisha by using modern technology and natural resources is the need of the day. The Union Minister urged the people of Odisha to fulfill their responsibility. He said that when every citizen is aware of his responsibility, only then will the rights of all be protected and the dream of a prosperous Odisha will be fulfilled.
Apart from this, Shri Pradhan said about the main book that this work is not just a novel, but it is a unique combination of the glorious history of Odisha and the Buddhist philosophy that is the messenger of world peace. ‘Daya’ River – which saw the river of blood in 261 BC. Our Daya River is a silent witness to that great change from Chandashoka to Dharmashoka. On the other hand, ‘Niranjana’ – on whose banks Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. Through this novel, Dr. Ray has presented that mirror of history for today’s generation in literary form.
The writing of such a book in the 21st century is certainly a commendable step. It is said that a nation, civilization and culture progress by looking at its history; because history always acts like a mirror. ‘Dayandiru Niranjana’ is not just a historical novel, but it gives an eternal message of love, compassion and non-violence to the entire human civilization. The historical event that once stained the waters of the Dayanadi with blood, later showed the path of peace to the world. Shri Pradhan prayed for this great book to be widely appreciated by the public.
The book release ceremony was attended by Odisha’s Higher Education Minister, Shri Suryavanshi Suraj, the author of the book, Padma Bhushan Dr. Pratibha Ray, and the Project Director of the Eastern Regional Language Center, Professor Basant Panda.
