Bhubaneswar, April 23: A five-day workshop on Text Editing commenced at the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA) here on Wednesday where training is being imparted to research scholars of Odia language in the art of deciphering ancient manuscripts, editing the same and transfering the text into books.
Fifteen research scholars from SOA, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, and Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, are participating in the workshop which is the first of its kind in Odisha.
Deciphering ancient manuscripts and text editing is not taught in any university in Odisha at present and organizing a workshop to train research scholars is a timely step taken by SOA, Prof. Jatindra Kumar Nayak, eminent critic and translator, who attended the inaugural function as the chief guest, said.
The workshop has been organised by the SOA Centre for Propagation, Preservation and Restoration of Ancient Culture and Heritage of India (PPRACHIN). Three experts in the domain– Prof. Gouranga Charan Das, Prof. Pradipta Kumar Panda and Prof. Santosh Kumar Rath– are the trainers at the workshop which has three sessions including a practical session every day.
PPRACHIN, which is presently engaged in editing the Sarola Das Mahabharatha, intends to churn out efficient editors in the state to bolster the efforts to preserve and propagate texts which were written centuries ago.
Prof. Gayatribala Panda, Head of PPRACHIN, who addressed the inaugural ceremony, said such a workshop had not been organised anywhere in Odisha before. Dr. Nihar Ranjan Mishra and Mr. Jiban Kumar Panda, conducted the inaugural session.
