The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, JAN 31, 2024
As Odisha celebrates the State Cabinet’s landmark decision to establish a Language Commission for the preservation and advancement of tribal languages, the ongoing Adivasi Mela at the Adivasi Exhibition Ground in Unit-I area is set to host a vibrant three-day multilingual drama festival. From February 3 to 5, the festival will showcase performances in Santali, Desia, Ho, and Mundari languages, offering a captivating glimpse into the rich tapestry of tribal culture.
Kicking off the festival on February 3, Aya Baba Gayan Semled from Ulidihi in Mayurbhanj district will present a Santali play, while Koraputia Desia Dramatic Club from Koraput district will enchant audiences with a drama in Desia language. On February 4, Pandit Lokobadra Dramatic Club from Balibhoi in Karanjia, Mayurbhanj district, will take the stage with a Ho language drama, and Baba Chintamani Dramatic Club from Astajharana in Badasahi block, Mayurbhanj district, will enthrall spectators with a Mundari performance.
Continuing the cultural extravaganza on February 5, Maa Biratpat Tayanburu Gangamandil Dramatic Club from Khadiabasa near Udala, Mayurbhanj district, will captivate audiences with a Mundari language drama at the Adivasi Mela venue.
Roopa Roshan Sahoo, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes Development, Minorities, and Backward Communities Welfare Department, emphasized the State Government’s commitment to preserving, promoting, and safeguarding tribal languages and dialects. She highlighted the significance of the multilingual drama festival, which coincides with the first World Odia Language Conference (WOLC) in the Temple City, as a pivotal step in this endeavor.
Paramananda Patel, State Language Coordinator at SC,ST Research and Training Institute, underscored the cultural richness embedded within Odisha’s tribal communities, comprising 62 tribal groups and 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Patel highlighted the monumental task of incorporating all 21 tribal languages into the multilingual education framework, acknowledging the State Government’s successful implementation of this initiative statewide.
The festival, also commemorating “Scheduled Tribe Drama Day,” aims to raise awareness about tribal multilingual culture while providing a platform for participants, including women, to showcase their talents amidst the annual Adivasi fair.
The three-day multilingual tribal drama festival promises to be a spectacular showcase of North Odisha’s and South Odisha’s tribal dramatic traditions, offering a captivating cultural kaleidoscope for the public and enthusiasts alike to relish.
