Bhubaneswar, Mar 31: Utkala Dibasa, is celebrated on 1 April in the Indian state of Odisha, to commemorate the formation as a separate state on linguistic basis out of Bihar and Orissa Province with addition of Koraput and Ganjam from the Madras Presidency on the very day of April 1936. The most awaited and a moment of great pride for any State to rejoice.
On 1 April 1936, Utkala (the then Orissa), consisted of only 6 districts to the fully formed language-based Odisha of 30 districts, has witnessed and a saga of struggles, sacrifices, patriotism and political conviction of thousands of patriots, leaders and proud Odias. A Journey of long years from The Utkal Pradesh to Odisha, this is the day of remembrance of the illustrious past and to be united as Odias beyond geographical divides and to say with pride- ମୁଁ ଓଡ଼ିଆ, ମୋ ଓଡ଼ିଶା.
Claiming to have effectively addressed some of the key promises made to the people of Odisha, CM Naveen Patnaik In August 2016, and the state government enacted the rules of the Odisha Official Language Act, 1954, formally bringing it into force for official work in Odia language. According to the act, Odia has to be used for all gazette notifications, bills, amendment, acts, ordinances, orders, rules and regulations issued by the state government.
Prior to that in 2014, the Union Cabinet had concedes the long-pending demand of Odisha to give Odia the classical language status. On the political and personal front too, despite criticism from all corners about Naveen’s uncomfortable, “Roman Odia” speaking, the unmoving politician, on 2018 Oct’ has laid the foundation stone of Odia University at Sakhigopal under Puri District. On Feb’ 2021 CM has also approved the architectural design of Odia University. The university will be dedicated to research in Odia language and literature which is one of the richest among the Indian classical languages.
Besides, it will endeavor to promote Odia language for international recognition. The Odisha cabinet has also amended the “Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishment Act, 1956” for all the signboards of all shops and commercial establishments to be written in mother tongue.
After losing its political identity completely in 1568, following the defeat and demise of the last king Mukunda Dev, efforts resulted in the formation of a politically separate state from British Rule on a linguistic basis on 1 April 1936. The movement to have an identity of an individual Linguistic State turned more intense under the leadership of Utkala Gouraba Madhusudan Das, Maharaja Sri Ram Chandra Bhanj Deo, Maharaja Krushna Ch. Gajapati, Pandita Nilakantha Das, Fakir Mohan Senapati, Gangadhar Mehar, Radhanath Ray, Bhubananada Das and many others with the support of the public.
Be it political, economical, social, cultural, sports front, the revamped, New-age Odisha has grabbed national and international attention in its one and unique diaspora.
