Odisha Day, also Utkala Dibasa, is celebrated on 1 April in the Indian state of
Odisha
Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of ...
in memory of the formation of the state as a separate state out of
Bihar and Orissa Province
Bihar and Orissa was a province of British India, which included the present-day Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha. The territories were conquered by the British in the 18th and 19th centuries, and were governed by the then Indian C ...
with addition of
Koraput
Koraput is a town and a Municipality in Koraput district in the Indian state of Odisha. Koraput town is the district headquarter of Koraput district.
History
The district of Koraput derives its name from its headquarters the present town of K ...
and
Ganjam
Ganjam is a town and a notified area council in Ganjam district in the state of Odisha, India. Brahmapur, one of the major city of Odisha is situated in this district.
Geography
Ganjam is located at in the Ganjam district of Odisha with an ...
from the
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency, or the Presidency of Fort St. George, also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision (presidency) of British India. At its greatest extent, the presidency included most of southern India, including the ...
on 1 April 1936.
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 under
British rule
The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent;
*
* it is also called Crown rule in India,
*
*
*
*
or Direct rule in India,
* Quote: "Mill, who was hims ...
on a linguistic basis on 1 April 1936.
[Orissareview]
April 2008. pp. 17-19
State history
The main revolution in this separate state continued for three decades from the very day of formation of
Utkal Sammilani
Utkala Sammilani ( or, ଉତ୍କଳ ସମ୍ମିଳନୀ)is an Indian social and cultural organization. It was founded in Odisha in 1903 by Madhusudan Das and continues in present times.
History
Utkal Sammilani was founded by Madhusuda ...
that led to the foundation of a separate Odisha Province. The movement turned more intense under the leadership of Utkala Gouraba
Madhusudan Das
Madhusudan Das (28 April 1848 – 4 February 1934) was an Indian lawyer and social reformer, who founded Utkal Sammilani in 1903 to campaign for the unification of Odisha along with its social and industrial development. He was one of the main ...
, Utkala mani
Gopabandhu Das
Gopabandhu Das (1877–1928), popularly known as ''Utkalamani'' (''Jewel of Utkal'' or Odisha), was a social worker, reformer, political activist, journalist, poet and essayist.
Early life
Gopabandhu Das was born on 9 October 1877 in Suando ...
, Maharaja SriRam Chandra Bhanj Deo, Maharaja
Krushna Chandra Gajapati
Krushna Chandra Gajapati KCIE (26 April 1892 – 25 May 1974), also known as Captain Maharaja Sri Sri Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayana Deba KCIE, was a key personality and regarded as the architect , founding father of an Independent O ...
, Pandita
Nilakantha Das
Pandit Nilakantha Das (1884-1967) was one of the most illustrious sons of Odisha, who appeared both in its ''political and literary arena'' at the most crucial period of its history, when Odisha had no political identity in the map of India, and O ...
,
Fakir Mohan Senapati,
Gangadhar Meher
Swabhaba kabi Gangadhar Meher () was a renowned Odia poet of the 19th century. Though poor in wealth and education, he remained one of the most prolific and original contributor to Odia literature.
Childhood
Gangadhara was born in 1862 on the ...
, Basudeba Sudhaladeba,
Radhanath Ray,
Bhubanananda Das
Bhubanananda Das was an Indian Independence activist from Orissa. He was a member of the Central Legislative Assembly, Constituent Assembly of India, Provisional Parliament, the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.
Das was president of the First ...
,
A. P. Patro
Rao Bahadur Sir Annepu Parasuramdas Patro KCIE (1875 or 1876–1946) was an Indian politician, ''zamindar'' and education minister in the erstwhile Madras Presidency.
Patro was born in a rich and powerful family of Berhampur, Madras Presiden ...
and many others with the support of the public. The newly formed Odisha consisted of six districts namely
Cuttack
Cuttack (, or officially Kataka ) in Odia is the former capital and the second largest city in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the headquarters of the Cuttack district. The name of the city is an anglicised form of ''Kataka'' which literall ...
,
Puri
Puri () is a coastal city and a Nagar Palika, municipality in the state of Odisha in eastern India. It is the district headquarters of Puri district and is situated on the Bay of Bengal, south of the state capital of Bhubaneswar. It is als ...
,
Baleswar,
Sambalpur
Sambalpur () is the fifth largest city in the Indian State of Odisha. It is located on the banks of river Mahanadi, with a population of 335,761 (as per 2011 census). Prehistoric settlements have been recorded there. It is the home of the Samb ...
,
Koraput
Koraput is a town and a Municipality in Koraput district in the Indian state of Odisha. Koraput town is the district headquarter of Koraput district.
History
The district of Koraput derives its name from its headquarters the present town of K ...
and
Ganjam
Ganjam is a town and a notified area council in Ganjam district in the state of Odisha, India. Brahmapur, one of the major city of Odisha is situated in this district.
Geography
Ganjam is located at in the Ganjam district of Odisha with an ...
with its capital at
Cuttack
Cuttack (, or officially Kataka ) in Odia is the former capital and the second largest city in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the headquarters of the Cuttack district. The name of the city is an anglicised form of ''Kataka'' which literall ...
. John Austin Hubback took the oath of office and became the first Governor of Odisha Province.
[
As of 1 April 2019, Odisha has 30 districts.]
Celebration
Odisha Dibasa or Utkala Dibasa is celebrated every year on 1 April all over Odisha. Thousands of shops and Jhankis makes this festival more beautiful. There are competitions arranged by popular local politicians like fireworks
Fireworks are a class of Explosive, low explosive Pyrotechnics, pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. They are most commonly used in fireworks displays (also called a fireworks show or pyrotechnics), combining a l ...
competition. One can enjoy these fireworks displays which make the sky all the more stunning. On that day all across the country, the family of Odia arranges different cultural programs like a sing-song program. Utkala Dibasa is the day of remembrance for all Odia helps everybody to be united.
See also
*List of districts of Odisha
Odisha, a state on the eastern coast of India, is divided into 30 administrative geographical units called ''Districts''. These 30 districts have been placed under three different revenue divisions to streamline their governance. The divisions ...
References
{{Indian state foundation days
Odia culture
History of Odisha
Indian state foundation days
1936 in India
April observances