Sabita Pradhan appointed first vice-chancellor of Odia University

NEW DELHI: Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal today appointed Sabita Pradhan as the first vice-chancellor (VC) of Odia University, Satyabadi, in Puri.

The Governor said: “She will hold the office for a period of two years with effect from the date she assumes office as such or until further orders, whichever is earlier.”

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She completed her Master in Odia and PhD from Visva Bharati University and is presently employed as an Odia professor at Visva Bharati University. She has been awarded with numerous awards including Basanta Kumari Devi Lekhika Sammana in 2016, Dibyaduta Sammana in 2015, Nishamani Mishra Prabandha Sammana in 2010-11 and visiting associate of Indian Institute of Advance Studies for three years.

She started her teaching career as lecturer in 1983. She then rose to the position of reader in 1996 and became a professor in 2004.

The state government said that it will be starting the university on September 5. The university will offer three programmes – Odia Language and Literature, Linguistics and Natural Language Processing and Regional, Tribal Language and Heritage Studies.

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnik had laid the foundation stone of Odia University in 2018.

The government has acquired 10 acres, on which classrooms, hostels, library, and an administrative block will be constructed in the first phase. The institute has been set up to promote study of historical scripts, language, linguistics, and literature in Odia.