SunsatrTV Bureau: With constant transformation from an ancient province of Mauryan empire to the modern Odisha, the land has never lost its essence of socio-cultural magnificence. That’s the glorious Odisha!
The Indian state of Odisha came into being on April 1, 1936, around a decade before India achieved independence from the British colonisation.
The state was established as a separate British India province and the day is celebrated as Orissa Day to encourage the remembrance of the same and foster a spirit of unity among all the citizens of the state.
Here are some unheard facts about odisha:
- It was initially named “Utkal” as, justifying the Sanskrit term, it was a land of majestic art and craft where some of the finest artisans settled down.
- In 250 BC , around 2000 years ago, the land was home to tribes of civilized,urbanized and cultured people, who resided in Kalahandi, Balangir and Koraput regions with Asurgarh as their capital.This way before Odisha became the core of Samarat Asoka’s Kalinga.
- The land is mentioned in Ramayan and Mahabharata as Kantara which altogether included Kalahandi, Koraput and Bastara.
- Records from 4th century point out that Odisha, the then ‘Indravana’ was vessel of precious stones and gems of the Maurya empire.
- Thereafter, many great temples in Puri, Bhubaneswar and Konark were built under the Hindu dynasties such as that of King Harshas, King Narasimha Dev built the Sun Temple at Konark.
- In 1576, coast Orissa fell to the Mughal Empire. Parts of the coast were taken over by the Marathas in the mid 1700s.
- After the Carnatic wars, the southern coast of Odisha was merged with the Madras Presidency by the East India Company.
- Bihar and Odisha became separate provinces born of the Bengal coast region in 1912.
- After separation from Bihar, Odisha became the first independent state that was formed on linguistic basis.
- Modern day Odisha was formed as a province for teh people speaking Oriya on April 1, 1936.
- Newly formed Odisha had six districts- Cuttack, Puri, Baleswar, Sambalpur, Koraput and Ganjam.
- It was established at Kanika Palace in Cuttack.
- John Austin Hubback became the first Governor of the independent province of Odisha.
- The initial capital of the state was Cuttack. Later, Bhubaneswar was declared the state capital.
- Utkal Divas is also known as Vishuva Milan.
