Gyana Nadi works to connect the Bay of Bengal with the San Francisco Bay Area by promoting Oriyan culture and language. Gyana Nadi connects non-native speakers with Odiya language and strengthens communal bonds by sharing cultural practices. Specifically, Gyana Nadi fosters cross-cultural dialogue and exchange while highlighting the richness of East India’s cultural heritage and the importance of Oriyan language and culture.
Since the 1960s, there’s been a unique connection between the Bay of Bengal and the San Francisco Bay Area. As more Odia families came to the U.S. in search of better opportunities, they brought their culture and traditions with them. Odisha, often called "The Land of Temples," is one of India’s most culturally rich states, with centuries-old traditions like the Rath Yatra in Puri and the simple elegance of white silk dhotis. Suddenly, these pieces of Odisha found themselves blending into American life.
Growing up in the U.S., I didn’t think much about being Odia. To me, I was just American. Odisha felt like a world away—both physically and emotionally. But as I got older, my outlook started to shift. I saw many of my friends embracing their own cultural backgrounds, which made me curious about mine. Whenever someone asked me about my heritage, I’d get defensive, and I started wondering why. Was I embarrassed about being Odia?
Soon, I started talking to my family about life in Odisha. I joined them in Odia traditions, tried my hand at making *dahi vada* (though it never tasted like the street vendor’s), and admired the beautiful arches of the Puri temple. But what I loved most was speaking the language.
When I visited family in Odisha, I took every chance to use my Odia—chatting with strangers on the street, sharing stories with family on the terrace, talking to the milkman, anyone I could find! I realized that knowing the language gave me a much deeper connection to the culture. I felt like I was truly experiencing Odisha, not just visiting it. But I noticed something else too: many people my age in the Bay Area didn’t have this connection to the language.
That’s what inspired me to start Gyana Nadi, a Bay Area nonprofit focused on promoting the Odia language. Our mission is simple: encourage people to speak Odia. Language alone can’t capture the full richness of our culture, but it’s a start. By focusing on speaking, we’re helping Odia people of all ages feel a little closer to their roots, bringing a bit of the Bay of Bengal to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Aditi Biswal
Co-Founder and President
Gyana Nadi Inc.
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