Berhampur: The establishment of a Telugu chair at Berhampur University here on the lines of the establishment of an Odia chair at Ambedkar University in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh is yet to become a reality despite the passage of three and half years. The decision was taken after former Andhra chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy held talks with then Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on the issue during a visit to Bhubaneswar. The two CMs had then agreed to set up of a Telugu chair in Berhampur University under the establishment of an Odia chair at Ambedkar University at Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh. Over three and half years have passed since the agreement but the establishment of the chairs in both the universities is yet to become a reality.
On the other hand, the establishment of the proposed Odia-Telugu translator centre in Berhampur has also been pushed to cold storage while a BEd course in Telugu language is yet to be introduced at Berhampur University. Sources said as much as half of the total population in Berhampur is from the Telugu community while the other half belongs to the Odia community. Members of both communities share a cordial relationship and live in a bond of brotherhood and amity. The tradition and culture of South India is also witnessed in Berhampur where both communities do not mind taking part in each other’s festivals and functions. Berhampur Assembly segment under Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency has witnessed 16 Assembly elections from 1951-52 to 2019 but the mainstream parties in the state have never fielded a candidate from the Telugu community. However, the ruling BJP fielded a candidate from the Telugu community for the first time in the 2024 elections and created history. BJP candidate K Anil Kumar defeated his nearest BJD rival by over 18,000 votes and was elected to the state Assembly. This has spread cheers among the members of the Telugu community as they hoped that Kumar would try to fulfil their demands after his election to the state Assembly.
Sources said that a team from Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council visited Berhampur, January 23, 2021. The team led by the then chairman of the Legislative Council Mohammed Ahmed Sarif also comprised members of the Telugu Language and Culture Committee in Andhra Pradesh. The team members interacted with the people from the Telugu community and tried to ascertain their problems related to the Telugu language and culture in the city. They also held discussions with the members of Andhra Bhasha Bibardhan Samajam and tried to ascertain problems that they might be facing in the city. They also tried to know the state government’s attitude towards the members of the Telugu community and visited Telugu schools in the city in the presence of state government officials. The members of the Bibardhini Samajam then submitted a 10-point charter of demands to the members of the Andhra’s Legislative Council team. Their demands include the opening of an Odia-Telugu translator centre in Berhampur and the establishment of a Telugu chair in Berhampur University. They also urged the committee members to place their demands before the state government.
Later, the team members visited Bhubaneswar and held talks with the state government. They returned to Andhra Pradesh and urged their own government to press for the fulfilment of the demands with the Odisha government. Ten months later, the then-Andhra CM visited Bhubaneswar and held discussions with the then-Odisha CM in this regard, November 2021. The two Chief Ministers agreed and decided for establish of a Telugu chair in Berhampur University in keeping with an Odia chair at Ambedkar University in Srikakulam of Andhra Pradesh. Since then, three and half years have passed but the chairs are yet to be established in both the universities. The establishment of an Odia-Telugu translator centre and the introduction of BEd course in the Telugu language are yet to materialise.