Utkala Dibasa: The Formation of Odisha and its way forward on 4 April 2025

Policy Update

Devananda S

Context

The formation of the province of Orissa is significant as it marks the first political movement in modern Indian history aimed at creating a province based on linguistic identity. Utkala Dibasa, also known as Odisha Foundation Day, is celebrated annually on April 1st to mark the formation of the state of Odisha in 1936. This day commemorates the persistent efforts of the people of Odisha to establish a separate identity based on linguistic and cultural uniqueness. Odisha, located on the eastern coast of India, is the eight largest state in terms of size and seventh largest with respect to population. The state also has the third largest population of scheduled tribes in India. It has a rich history that dates back to ancient times. It has been home to powerful dynasties like the Gupta empire, Somavamsi empire and the mughal and maratha rule, remarkable architectural marvels like the Konark Sun Temple, and vibrant cultural traditions. However, before 1936, the Odia-speaking population was scattered across different administrative units under British rule. It was in an effort to question the Hindi, Bengali and Telugu chauvinism that the great step to strengthen Odia language was taken in the late 19th century. Utkal Diwas signifies the unification of these regions, on 1st April 1936, into a distinct province, recognizing the aspirations of the people for self-governance and cultural preservation.

History

The demand for a separate Odisha state was primarily driven by linguistic factors. Before independence, Odia-speaking people were divided among the Bengal Presidency, the Central Provinces, and the Madras Presidency under British rule. By 1760, following the Second Carnatic War, the British took control of the Northern Circars, which included Odisha’s southern coastal region, and gradually integrated them into the Madras Presidency. Later, during the Second Anglo-Maratha War in 1803, they expelled the Marathas from the Puri-Cuttack region, securing their dominance over central Odisha. Meanwhile, the northern and western districts of Odisha were incorporated into the Bengal Presidency. This fragmentation created socio-economic disadvantages and threatened the distinct cultural identity of the Odia people. The struggle for a separate state began in the late 19th century, led by influential figures like Madhusudan Das, Byasa Kabi Fakir Mohan Senapati, Gopabandhu Das, and Krushna Chandra Gajapati. The Utkal Sammilani (Utkal Union Conference) was established in 1903 to advocate for Odia unity and identity. The primary objectives of Utkala Sammilani were to unify Odisha, which was fragmented across multiple provincial administrations, ensure the overall development of the region, bring all Odia-speaking people under a single administrative unit, and safeguard the interests of Odias residing in distant regions. The movement gained momentum, and finally, on April 1, 1936, Odisha was carved out as a separate province from Bihar and Orissa Province by the British government.

In Detail

The movement for a separate state

The fight for a separate Odisha state was spearheaded by several leaders and organizations. Since the year 1886, there were movements catering to uniting Oriya people in the line of language. The then king from Balasore, Baikunthanath Deb, brought the proposal to formulate a State on the basis of Oriya language. A proposal in this direction was presented to the then Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon, in the year 1902. In the same year, Utkala Sammilani was established with the aim of creating a separate state by uniting Odia-speaking people who were scattered across Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh. This organization played a crucial role in uniting Odia-speaking people and advocating for their rights. It worked towards the inclusion of all Odia-speaking regions under one administrative unit. Popularly known as “Utkal Gourav,” Madhusudan Das was instrumental in mobilizing support for a separate Odisha. His legal and political efforts laid the foundation for the movement. In 1903, Utkal Gourab Madhusudan Das, deeply inspired by the Samiti, organized a grand meeting of Utkala Sammilani in Cuttack, which was presided over by the King of Mayurbhanj, Sri Ramachandra Bhanjadeo. Local newspapers such as Utkal Dipika of Cuttack, Prajabandhu of Rambha, and Sambalpur Hitaisini of Bamara played a crucial role in fostering national consciousness among the Odias. The Philip-Duff Committee, appointed in 1924, investigated the merger of Oriya-speaking areas under the Madras Presidency with Odisha, finding a strong desire for unification and recommending it. In the year 1930, the Round Table Conference in London had Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, the nominee of Bihar-Orissa assembly, as a representative. He laid a strong foundation for the creation of a separate state of Odisha. The British Government appointed the Odonnel Committee to prepare the map of Orissa in 1932, which finally led to the formulation of the special Oriya state in the year 1935, under the Indian administrative act. The Simon Commission (1928) and the Government of India Act (1935) recognized the need for administrative reorganization based on linguistic lines, which also paved the way for Odisha’s formation in 1936.

Odisha’s Formation and Initial Challenges

Odisha was formed as a separate province on April 1, 1936, with Sir John Austen Hubback as its first governor. The state was initially composed of six districts: Cuttack, Puri, Balasore, Sambalpur, Koraput, and Ganjam. Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo, the Maharaja of Paralakhemundi was appointed the first Prime Minister of Odisha. After India gained independence in 1947, Odisha saw rapid socio-economic and political changes. The princely states were integrated into the Indian Union, and new districts were formed. After India’s independence on 15 August 1947, 27 princely states signed the agreement to merge with Odisha. Following the dissolution of the Eastern States Union in 1948, most of the Orissa Tributary States, a group of princely states, also integrated into Odisha. Cuttack served as the capital of Odisha, then known as Orissa, from the 12th century until 1948, when Bhubaneswar became the new capital. Today, Odisha has 30 districts, and Bhubaneswar serves as its capital, while Cuttack remains its cultural and judicial hub.

Challenges

Economic challenges

Odisha remains one of the economically weaker states in India, with a high poverty rate and dependence on agriculture.The underdevelopment of Odisha’s economy stems from its undiversified structure, low investment levels, slow growth, and frequent natural calamities. With the primary sector contributing around 35% to the GDP, higher than the national average of 26%, the state’s heavy reliance on agriculture makes it vulnerable to climate shocks, causing economic instability. Despite having rich mineral resources, industrial development is slow due to inadequate infrastructure and policy challenges. 

Natural disaster

Odisha is highly prone to cyclones, floods, and droughts due to its geographical location along the Bay of Bengal. Major cyclones like the Super Cyclone of 1999, which resulted in significant loss of life and property, and Cyclone Fani (2019) and Cyclone Phailin (2013) have caused severe damage to life and property. 

Social  Challenges

Although Odisha has improved its literacy rate of 72.28% (2011), it still lags behind the national average of 74.04%. Odisha has 62 tribal communities, comprising 22.1% of the state’s total population and 9.7% of India’s total tribal population.A significant portion of the population are poor, though until recently they were almost self-sufficient. While women’s participation in governance has increased, gender inequality in education and employment remains a concern. In rural Odisha, 65% of females aged six and above have attended school, with significant variation across districts. The proportion ranges from 39% in Rayagada to 79% in Jagatsinghpur, while 13 out of 30 districts fall below the state average.

Cultural Preservation and Modernization

Odisha faces the challenge of preserving its traditional art, music, and language while embracing modernization. Odisha’s heritage is unparalleled, with over 45 million native Odia speakers, a unique script older than many modern languages, and a literary tradition dating back to the 10th century. The state is also the birthplace of ancient performing arts like Odissi dance and music, along with rich folk traditions and diverse tribal languages that contribute to India’s linguistic diversity. However, many tribal languages face the risk of extinction due to inadequate documentation and limited integration into education.

Way Forward

Considering the challenges the state currently faces, to overcome these challenges and ensure sustainable growth, Odisha must primarily be  focusing on the economy, disaster management, education and social development. State Budget for 2025-26 in February underlines the government’s vision for ‘Samruddha Odisha’ by 2036, aiming to become a $500 billion economy. But by January end, looking at the expenditure for the 2024-25 fiscal year, a below 50% expenditure was noticed in 16 departments. The lack of an achievable action plan should be tackled. Unemployment rate is 3.9% which is higher than the national average of 3.2%. In the multidimensional poverty Index it ranks 14th among the 17 major states, which is also a matter of great concern. But the state recently excelled in the Niti Aayog’s fiscal health index, securing the highest overall index score of 67.8%.

Since the super cyclone of 1999, proper interventions have been taken in terms of disaster preparedness in the state, making it possible for Odisha to effectively handle crises. Odisha is the first Indian state to establish an early warning system that ensures critical disaster-related information reaches even the most remote areas.The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority has constructed over 800 multi-purpose cyclone shelters along with evacuation roads spanning the state’s entire coastline. They have also taken measures to place local people at the heart of disaster management, like the gram panchayats, women SHGs and trained volunteers. The educational sector is also facing challenges in terms of aspects like the student teacher ratio, which is 25:1, and class room infrastructure. Rural Odisha only has an internet access rate of 5.8% and computer literacy rate of 13.4 % making things even worse. But with RTI and SSA the gross enrolment ratio is seen to have witnessed considerable improvement. Development projects catering the tribal population and measures ensuring their land rights should also be effectively implemented. Supporting traditional artists through government schemes, encouraging youth participation in cultural programs and leveraging technology to document and promote Odisha’s folk art and literature are measures that can be adopted.Utkal Diwas is a reminder of Odisha’s long struggle for recognition and identity. While the state has made commendable progress since its formation in 1936, it must continue to address economic, social, and environmental challenges to achieve sustainable development. 

Reference

About the Contributor: Devananda S is a research intern at IMPRI, currently pursuing her BA Programme (Economics, Maths) from Delhi University.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.

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