Since Thursday, 20th Feb. 2014 Odia language has been recognized as a classical language by Indian Govt. This was a long pending demand by Odias and Odisha Govt. It may be Mentioned here that Odia is the first Indo-Aryan language to have received recognition as a classical language. Previously five languages namely Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu Malayalam and Kannada were recognized as classical languages. After receiving such recognition Odia 
language has become entitled to receive financial assistance for setting up a Centre of Excellence for the study of Odia language and also opens up an avenue for two major awards for scholars of eminence. Besides, the University Grants Commission can be requested to create — to begin with at least in Central Universities — a certain number of professional chairs for classical languages for scholars of eminence in the language.
Odia language is enriched by the writing of different novelists poets and writers beginning from 15th Century. There have been many writers in Odia language at different times starting from Sarala Era and Sarala Mahabharat is the first eminent writing of Sarala Das. When comes Panchasakha Yuga which comprises of the writing of Jagannath Das (Odia Bhagabat), Balaram Das, Achyutananda Das etc. Upendra Bhanja is an eminent poet and his writing is Bhanja Granthabali. There is also Madhu Sudhan Granthabali, Radhanath Granthabali and Kabi Gangadhar Granthabali. These writings are about different fields of social lives of king and village life.
Each and every person including Odisha Govt. is jubilant about Odia language being recognized as a classical language. So also is our internationally renowned sand artist Shri Manas Kumar Sahoo who is expressing his happiness. He has prepared a sand sculpture at the golden sea beach near light house, Puri and at the distance of 65 k.m from Capital of Odisha, Bhubaneswar . This sculpture is of the height of 15 feet using 20 tons of sand with continuous labour of 8 hours. This sculpture comprises of different eminent books of Odia literature like Jagyanseni, Chhamana Athaguntha, Chabila Barnabodha, Sarala Mahabharat, Lachhama, Odia Bhagabat etc. which have contributed for recognition of Odia as a Classical language.
