Kuwi and Desia Books

Union Minister for Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, have launched school textbooks in Kuwi and Desia languages of Odisha. The launch marks a collaborative effort with Central University of Odisha, Koraput, Department of Posts, and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

Context

Union Ministers of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Finance & Corporate Affairs launched ‘Kuwi and Desia’ books at Bhubaneswar in Odisha with the aim of shaping a strong educational foundation, preserving & fostering cultural, linguistic heritage and identity of tribal community of Odisha.

About the books

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), in collaboration with the Central University of Odisha, and Department of Posts has developed the ‘Kuwi Primer’ and ‘Desia Primer’.
These books are specifically tailored for children speaking the Kuwi and Desia tribal languages in the undivided Koraput district of Odisha.
It aims to shape a strong educational foundation of children along with preserving and fostering the cultural, linguistic heritage and identity of the tribal community of Odisha.

Tribals in Odisha

According to the 2011 census, the state of Odisha has the third largest proportion of tribal population in the country.
They form about 23 percent of the state’s total population and constitute 9.17 percent of the state’s total tribal population.
Birhori, Bonda Porajani, Chuktia Bhunjia, Didai, Dongria Kandha, Hill Kharia, Juangi, Kutia Kandha, Lanjia Saora, Lodha, Mankirdia, Paudi Bhuyan and Saora etc. tribal communities are famous tribal communities living in Odisha.
Therefore, it is necessary to teach students through pictures, stories and songs based on local nature and culture to improve their speaking skills, academic performance and cognitive development.

Meri Maati Mera Desh

Ministers visited “Meri Maati Mera Desh” Sand Art by Padmashri Awardee Shri Sudarshan Patnaik in Puri Beach and dedicated Shilaphalakam (Memorial Plaques), planted saplings and took Panch Pran pledge with 1000 students.
A plaque commemorating the martyrs was installed as part of the ‘Shilaphalakam’ and ‘Vasudha Vandan’ initiative of Meri Maati Mera Deshi. Ministers collected soil and rice in amrit kalash from house to house at Biraharekrushnapur in Puri district, birthplace of martyr Jayee Rajguru, to create Amrit Vatican in Delhi.

About Martyr Jayee Rajguru

Jayakrushna Rajguru Mahapatra, also known as Jayee Rajguru, was one of India’s early freedom fighters and perhaps the first from Odisha to achieve martyrdom fighting the British Raj.
He was born in 1739 in Biraharekrushnapur near Puri in present-day Odisha state of India.
His ancestors were Rajgurus by profession of the royal family of Khordha who were political, military and spiritual advisors to the king.
King Dibyasingha Dev II appointed Jayakrushna as Rajguru at the age of 41.
Although the king of Khordha was subject to the Mughals and later to the Maratha rulers of Odisha, by custom he was the symbolic head of Odisha to whom other feudal chiefs acknowledged their sovereignty.
The English East India Company, after establishing its power in Bengal and Madras, turned its lustful eyes towards the neighboring country of Khordha, which further brought Jayee Rajguru into conflict with the British.

Read more: ncert, ncert full form, dharmendra pradhan, nirmala sitharaman, english east india company,