Uttar Pradesh to have Bhojpuri Academy

Lucknow, Aug 29 (IANS) A Bhojpuri Academy to promote Bhojpuri culture and literature will be set up in Uttar Pradesh soon, an official said on Friday.

A decision to this effect was taken by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav following representations from various organisations.

A government spokesman said the academy would be set up under the languages department on the lines of the Hindu Sansthan and the Urdu Academy.

Bhojpuri is widely spoken in eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh, western parts of Bihar and in countries such as Nepal, Guyana, Surinam, Fiji and Mauritius.

It is one of the national languages of Guyana, Fiji and Surinam.

Lorikayan, or the story of Veer Lorik, is a famous Bhojpuri folklore of eastern Uttar Pradesh.