An array of eminent experts, veteran public personalities, educationists, historians, media personalities, former Vice Chancellors, Padmashree Awardees, eminent linguists, scholars of Pali, Odia snd Buddhist studies gathered in Bhubaneswar to discuss the significance of #Pali as classical language and the legacy of Buddha and to laud Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for this decision.

The Maha Bodhi Society of India and SPMRF collaborated to organise the discussion. I referred to how PM Modi’s indefatigable effort for Buddha heritage preservation, revival of Nalanda University and conferring classical language status on Pali are historic achievements in the history of independent India. President of the Maha Bodhi Society of India Dr Mahendra Singh said this not only a national conference we have gathered here to applaud PM Modi’s decision, former Secretary Culture, Govt of Odisha, Shri Narendra Kumar Mishra, Dr Debi Prasanna Pattanayak Padmashree and eminent linguist, Prof Sacchidananda Mohanty Member UGC, former VC Odisha Central University, Venerable P Seewalee Thero, General Secretary MBSI, were among the eminent personalities who addressed the gathering.