Odisha CM unveils new edition and digital copy of Barnabodha on Bhaktakabi Madhusudan Rao’s Birth Anniversary
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi unveiled the new and illustration edition and digital copy of Barnabodha on the occasion of Bhaktakabi Madhusudan Rao’s birth anniversary today.
While addressing the gathering, the CM said, “At a time when Odisha and the Odia language were struggling for their stability and nationalism, Bhaktakabi Madhusudan brought back the glory of our state by publishing Chabila Madhu Barnobodha book.”
Majhi said that on the auspicious occasion of Shri Panchamiand and birth anniversary of Bhaktakabi Madhusudan Rao, re-publishing his Barnabodha in a new form is the best tribute of the Odias to the Bhaktakabi. The state government has set a target of printing 10,000 copies of Barnobodha book this year, he informed.
“Barnobodha book was written to instill in the public the original nature of the Odia language. Its author Bhaktakabi Madhusudan Rao has wonderfully demonstrated in this book how to teach letters, letters, consonants, words, word formation, and sentence formation to children in a simple way,” the CM said adding that the language of Barnobodha was very simple and easy. By giving simple examples like animals, birds, morning, evening, and the surrounding scenery, Bhaktakabi attracted the tender mind. This book became a part of every Odia family in a very short time. Barnobodha reached every home. The book was first published in 1895. Its popularity grew to such an extent that there were eight editions of the book between 1895 and 1901.
He further said, “There is no alternative of Barnobodha book to understanding the Odia language. Understanding the Odia language is very important for learning pure Odia. Today, our modern primary education system is implementing ‘Joyful Teaching & Learning.’ Its aim is that the children will get to understand better if teaching is done through pictures, toys and examples. In fact, Bhaktakabi Madhusudan Rao was the father of this education. He made teaching understandable through simple language and short verses.
The new and illustration edition of the Barnobodha book will be very popular among the children and will help them learn the Odia language easily, the CM hoped.
Odisha Deputy CM Pravati Parida, Bhubaneshwar Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, Principal Secretary of Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra along with other dignitaries took part in the special event held at Krushi Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.
