1,500 Odiyas set to attend convention in US

At least 1,500 people of Odisha origin settled in the US are expected to attend the three-day annual convention of Orissa Society of America (OSA) beginning Thursday in Chicago, the society said Wednesday.

The 44th convention of the OSA would be held at Westin Hotel Lombard, a suburb of Chicago, July 4-6.

Luminaries like Jnanpith and Padma Shri award winner and eminent writer Pratibha Ray and veteran artist Dinanath Pathy are scheduled to grace the convention as the chief speaker and chief guest respectively, the society said in a statement.

There would be several special events this year including classical and traditional dances, music, and seminars on issues that concern Odisha.

Padma Shri Tulasi Munda, a noted social activist and tribal leader, would be honoured as an outstanding Odiya for her lifetime contribution to the socially downtrodden.

National Innovation Council chairman Sam Pitroda is scheduled to inaugurate a symposium on the development of Odisha July 4.

A range of topics like health, careers, women's issues, spiritual matters, religion, business and entrepreneurial skills would be discussed at the meeting, the statement said.

OSA aims at the promotion of Oriya culture in the US, and the facilitation of information exchange between Odisha and North America.

Founded in 1969, OSA has 14 regional chapters that serve as social umbrellas for people from the state in different parts of the United States.