THE "UTKAL DIBAS", THE "ODISHA DAY", THE 1ST-APRIL-INDIA'S HISTORICAL DIVERSITY AND ODISHA'S BIRTHDAY.

What I am writing today on 1st April 2023, is about The "Utkal Dibas" or The "Odisha Day", may be less known to some here, and not about making anybody "April Fool " that is also popular in the Calendar of the English.

The State of Odisha ( earlier known as Orissa ), is one of the Main States of India which has been in existence as a Main Eastern Indian State since Pre-Independence Era.

Exactly on 1st-April-1936, under the British Rule then, the State of Odisha (then named as Orissa) was born or founded as a Province in the British Ruled India. This Province was founded at that time mainly basing on Linguistic Considerations to consolidate a Geography to house the people who were primarily speaking "Odia"( earlier known as Oriya) the Odia Language, having its rich culture and history. Of course Odisha houses a lot of population who speak other languages recognized most respectfully.

The State of Odisha was born out of a relentless struggle for a long time. After the breaking of Bengal during the British Rule in 1905 (Historic Partition  of Bengal in 1905 ), a large part of Odisha was with Bihar State known as "Bihar and Orissa" Province then and some parts were with others such as Madras Presidency. As historically India was ruled by Several Regional Kings having their kingdoms or kingly regions inside India covering specific geographies, say until mid of 16th Century up to 1568, Odisha was a Separate Political Geography ruled largely under the kings or local rulers ruling at Puri and Cuttack Regions while there were a number of small kingly territories in side. The ancient name of Odisha, the geography earmarks it was "Kalinga". From Mid 16th Century to 1st-April-1936, almost for 300years, Odisha State almost did not exist as a State as we see today as it was all merged by parts with different states that are good neighbours to it today.

Some of the sons of the Soil who had struggled a lot in those days and are very prominently and popular are:

Utkala Gouraba Madhusudan Das, Utkala mani Gopabandhu Das, Maharaja SriRam Chandra Bhanj Deo, Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, Pandit Nilkantha Das, Fakir Mohan Senapati, Dewan Athar Mohammad and Gangadhar Meher et al known as the Prominent Leaders being at the lead of the movement then. However, there are also many, as a movement can not happen with a few or handful of people, all those have contributed to the movement are always respected and remembered.

As on 1st-April-1936, Odisha was carved out as a Separate State under Linguistic Considerations mainly taking out some parts of it from "Bihar and Odisha" Province as it was existing then and some southern parts of Odisha as we see now were also brought in from the Madras Presidency that existed during the British Rule. John Austin Hubback was the First Governor of Orissa then ( Now known as Odisha).

Odisha's cultural traditions at basic and primary level gets linked to the Lord Jagannath Temple of Puri, as Odisha has its Local Calendar also known as "Panjika" (The Astrological Calendar) which is based on the rituals followed at Lord Jagannath Temple from time to time during the whole year. Konark Temple was also a Master Piece linked to Odisha, that has got a place in the 7-Wonders of the World heritage sites. However, unfortunately its original structure was largely also destroyed by the invaders that are recorded in the history. However, Odisha also housed a fairly large population of other faiths and tribals who have co-existed for centuries together in its geography. No doubt, Odisha has its own Cultural Identity and Diversity as one of the Main States during the Post-Independence Era of India and it exists so today, within the Unified Cultural Diversity and Unity of India as a Nation.

Initially on 1st April 1936 it was constituted with 6-Districts such as Cuttack, Puri, Baleswar, Sambalpur, Koraput and Ganjam. Later it was reorganized into 13-Districts and toward the 1990s it was reorganized into 30-Districts which is the existing administrative structure of Odisha today.

Odisha has its foundation day on 1st-April which is celebrated in Odisha quite extensively through out the state. Also in Pre-independence and Post-Independence era several other states have been founded by reorganization within the cultural and federal administrative diversity of India as a Nation and most respectfully other states have their Foundation Days celebrated on its dates, that is the Unity in Diversity of India, respecting that Beauty of my Great Nation.

Wrote it for the benefit of my readers who if find they got a bit more added to their information kitty about this Important Sate of India, it will make my day today.

About the Author : Dr. Nimain Charan Biswal is a B.Sc.(Agri. Science and Technology), M.B.A. and Ph.D.(Management Area ) by qualifications; and he has 37 years of work experience in both industrial and development sectors in diversified fields of social importance. He has been educated at Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT)-Bhubaneswar, Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) and Gujarat University (with Resource Support of IIM-Ahmedabad). He is further educated at IIM-Calcutta, XLRI-Jamshedpur, Apple Computer Industries and Spar Inc., USA. He has worked for reputed National and International Organizations in Senior/Top Management Capacities at Board level as well as Managing Director and CEO. He is a management expert covering extensive areas from management in industrial sectors, management in agriculture and dairy, development management to management of public systems. He is a prominent professional of India and known Internationally as well. He lives at Mumbai in India.