Sambalpur, 6th Aug 2025: Marking the birth anniversary of Guru Shri Satyanarayan Bohidar, the pioneer of the Sambalpuri language, the day was celebrated as ‘Sambalpuri Day’. Former Minister and Nabarangpur District BJD President Eng. Rohit Pujari paid tribute to Bohidar, whose life was dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Sambalpuri language and literature.
Speaking on the occasion, Rohit Pujari emphasized that the true tribute to Guru Bohidar would be to secure official recognition for the Sambalpuri language by including it in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. He called for a united resolve to achieve this long-pending demand.
Pujari recalled that former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had already proposed the inclusion of Sambalpuri in the 8th Schedule to the Central Government. However, no concrete steps have been taken so far.
He also expressed concern that in a recent Assembly session, Minister Surjya Banshi Suraj stated there was no active proposal regarding government recognition of the Sambalpuri language. This, according to Pujari, is disappointing and worrisome.
He appealed to the current BJP-led central government to take immediate steps to honor the legacy of Guru Satyanarayan Bohidar and respect the sentiments of over 2 crore people of Western Odisha by granting official recognition to Sambalpuri language under the Constitution.
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