Voice of Odisha

Disabled Orissa MLA shot dead by suspected Maoists

2011-09-25T03:48:00.000-07:00

Jagabandhu Majhi (39), ruling BJD MLA from Umarkote assembly seat in Nabarangpur district of Orissa, was shot dead on Saturday by three masked men at a public function. The assailants, who came in a motorcycle, also killed Majhi’s personal security officer (PSO) PK Patro, police said.

The incident occurred at about 1 pm when Majhi, a tribal leader, had gone to Gona village – 80 km from Nabarangpur district headquarter and more than 500 km southwest of Bhubaneswar – to distribute land pattas to landless tribals.

As the forested village is near the border of Chhatisgarh and affected by Maoist activities, Maoist hand is suspected in their murder, but police did not rule out past personal enmity either. “He had been attacked earlier also. A clear picture would emerge after a detailed inquiry,” said YB Khurania, IG (operations).

Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik ordered a crime branch (CB) probe into the incident few hours after the incident. “I am deeply shocked. He (Majhi) used to move around in a wheel chair. I have put the CB on the job of investigation,” Patnaik said.

Majhi became wheel chair bound after he was shot in the waist just before 2004 assembly elections. Though he lost the 2004 election, he won the Umarkote seat in 2009 assembly election for the first time.

Source: Hindustan Times

Link: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Disabled-Orissa-MLA-shot-dead-by-suspected-Maoists/Article1-749581.aspx

Shourya missile launch successful

2011-09-25T03:43:00.000-07:00

India’s hypersonic missile, Shourya, was successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Orissa, on Saturday, in its final configuration. The missile flew at 7.5 Mach, that is, 7.5 times the speed of sound and covered its full range of 700 km in 500 seconds.

This was the third successful launch of Shourya, a surface-to-surface missile and it paves the way for its production and induction into the Navy. It can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads. Shourya is the land-variant of the K-15 underwater missile that is being fitted into India’s nuclear-powered submarine, Arihant. So Shourya can be used by both the Navy and the Army. It can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads.

The missile rose from a canister fixed on the ground “on the dot” at 2.30 p.m., climbed to an altitude of 40 km and traversed 700 km at 7.5 times the speed of sound.

It performed a terminable manoeuvre and closed in on the pre-designated impact point in the Bay of Bengal with a high degree of accuracy. The missile was designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Avinash Chander, Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, said “the flight went off absolutely perfectly” and it met all the mission objectives. The radars located at the ITR, Chandipur and at Damra, also in Orissa, electro-optical and telemetry systems and two ships located near the impact point tracked the missile’s entire flight. They reported on “the excellent performance” of the missile.

“It gave us full confidence for the production of this class of systems. The launch was to certify the production process and offer the missile for further production,” he said.

Asked what was the altitude at which Shourya flew, Mr. Chander said it “was an entirely atmospheric flight” at a height of 40 km.

V.G. Sekaran, Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Hyderabad, called it “a good flight” and he was confident that the production of Shourya would go on as per plan because the missile this time was picked up from the production lot. “We achieved the full range for the ground launch configuration,” he said.

The ASL had developed the rocket motors for the two-stage missile and built the canister from which it took off, Dr. Sekaran said. Both the stages use solid propellants. The missile is 10 metres long, 74 cm in diameter and weighs 6.2 tonnes.

It was ejected from the canister fixed on the ground, by means of a gas generator developed by the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune and the ASL, both DRDO laboratories.

Source:The Hindu

Link: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/article2482010.ece?homepage=true

Orissa flood: 41 die, many villages submerged

2011-09-25T02:30:00.001-07:00

Dipannita Das,TNN | Sep 24, 2011, 10.42PM IST

PUNE: The International Fund for Animal Welfare in partnership with the Wildlife Trust of India has initiated relief operations in the state of Orissa, an area that has borne the brunt of the incessant rains of recent weeks.

The heavy monsoon rains that have battered South Asia for weeks have caused widespread flooding and left millions of people and animals displaced. “Thousands of animals have been left out in the open under the rain or scorching sun with no help at all. our main goal right now is to get food into the hardest-hit areas as quickly as possible,” said Dick Green IFAW Manager for Disasters.

The floods in Orissa have already claimed at least 41 human lives. About 4897 villages have been submerged across 19 districts and 2.2 million people are still marooned in coastal areas. 1667 livestock including cattle, goats and poultry is dead. With continuing rain forecasted, the disaster will likely linger for several weeks.

“The flood relief team is reaching out to remote and cut off villages in the most affected areas. Most of the animals brought to the veterinarians are very weak, they have lost their body condition to starvation. High incidents of respiratory ailments and diarrhea are being reported,” said N V K Ashraf, Chief Veterinarian, WTI.

Working with local partners APOWA (Action for Protection of Wild Animals) and AMRF (Arupa Mission Research Foundation) through a collaborative Emergency Relief Network (ERN), a relief project has been initiated that is distributing feed and providing veterinary assistance to thousands of impacted animals.
Five veterinarians and more than 20 volunteers are spread across the districts of Puri and Kendrapara attending to these animals besides visiting homes and advising people on hygiene. 9.5 metric tonnes of animal feed has been distributed. Health camps are being organised and shelters built in places where the situation in grave.

Bela Pana (ବେଲ ପଣା)

2011-04-14T02:36:00.000-07:00

Bela pana (ପାଚିଲା ବେଲ ପଣା) is a drink made from Bel, in the month of Chaitra and Vaishakha, in Orissa.

Ingredients (କଣ କଣ ଦରକାର):

1/2 cup finely grated Bel (ବେଲ)
1 cup milk
Chhena 1/4 cup
1/4 cup banana peeled and cut into tiny pieces
1/2 cup Honey or Jaggery (ଗୁଡ଼)
1/2 cup yogurt (ଦହି)
2 cardamom (ଗୁଜୁରାତି ଅଳେଇଚ)
3 Black pepper(crushed to powder)
A handful of cashews ground separately fistful of fresh grated coconut.

Preparation (କେମିତି କରିବେ):

Put grated bel, peeled banana, yogurt, paneer, cardamom and sugar in a grinder and grind well. Add about a cup of water to it and mix well. Serve fresh with ground cashew and fresh grated coconut sprinkled on top. Garnish with grated cherries and raisins (କିସ୍‌ମିସ୍).

Utility

It is an antidote for sun stroke, and a must in Oriya New Year.

For more cuisines click here.

Orissa assembly asks MLAs/officials not to use word "Harijan", IBN Live News

2011-03-27T23:41:00.001-07:00

Orissa assembly asks MLAs/officials not to use word "Harijan"

"Orissa assembly asks MLAs/officials not to use word 'Harijan'
PTI | 06:03 PM,Mar 26,2011

Bhubaneswar, Mar 26 (PTI) The Orissa Assermbly today asked its members and officials not to use the word 'Harijan' while referring to the scheduled caste community.'It is seen that the word Harijan is used in writing in assembly questions. It is better not to use the word Harijan,' speaker Pradip Kumar Amat said through a ruling.The Speaker's ruling came in the wake of some ruling party members raising the issue during the zero hour. 'We are confused over the use of word Harijan. Though there is a ban on the use of the word (Harijan), some members and assembly secretariat use it frequently,' said ruling BJD's senior member Kalpataru Das.Some days back, it was seen that Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan had used the word Harijan in his speech which was pointed out by treasury bech member and former minister Bishnu Charan Das. Harichandan, however, corrected himself immediately, Kalpataru Das pointed out.However, it was observed that the same word had been used by the assembly secretariat, he pointed out seeking a ruling from the chair.BJD member Pradeep Maharathy also supported Das and wanted a ruling from the chair on the use of word Harijan in the house."

Orissa assembly asks MLAs/officials not to use word "Harijan", IBN Live News

2011-03-27T23:41:00.000-07:00

Orissa assembly asks MLAs/officials not to use word "Harijan"

"Orissa assembly asks MLAs/officials not to use word 'Harijan'
PTI | 06:03 PM,Mar 26,2011

Maoist Charitra: Abducts Malkangiri District Collector

2011-02-17T10:06:00.000-08:00

In a shocking development, the Maoists have abducted Malkangiri District Collector Mr, R Vineel Krishna yesterday. What else can follow the suit???A massive operation has been launched to locate him.

As per official report, Collector Vineel Krishna was kidnapped while he was returning after attending a public interaction programme at Badapada village near Chitrakonda. He was abducted near Jantapai.

While the District Collector and Kudumulugumma JE Pabitra Majhi were reportedly kidnapped by the Maoists, an ITDA JE and an official of 'Paribartan' NGO were left by the Maoists. They were travelling on two bikes.

Although the news of Krishna's abduction is almost confirmed, the government and police have maintained a stoic silence in this matter due to security concerns. However, State Home Secretary UN Behera confirmed that the Collector is missing and he may have been abducted.

Efforts are on to locate the District Collector. His mobile is reportedly switched off. A red alert has been issued on Odisha-Andhra Border where the incident took place.

According to some local media reports, the naxals have reported demanded the release of their colleagues in jail and asked the government to withdraw forces from the Maoist-affected area. They have set a 48-hour deadline for the government.

Union Home Secretary GK Pillai said, "I don't think there is any need for any operation to release him. I am sure that the local support that he has and the state government will be able to negotiate and get his release."

R Vineel Krishna is a 2005-batch IAS officer. He had graduated from IIT-Madras in Civil Engineering. Later, he got through the Civil Service Examination with a high rank of 29th in India.

The abduction of Malkangiri District Collector is the biggest-ever Maoist menace in Odisha history. It sent shockwaves across the state. Vineel Krishna has been a very popular officer in Malkangiri district and has received appreciation from all quarters.

Source: Odisha News Today

Happy Diwali

2010-11-05T08:21:00.001-07:00

Hello Friends,

A very Happy and prosporous Diwali to all my friends.

Sakti

TATA starts work at KalingaNagar - So as local fights

2010-06-01T23:15:00.001-07:00

TATA has started its work at KalingaNagar from 28th of May, and the BVJM (Bistapan Virodhi Jana Mancha) has tighten its stand for the last fight as after a full fledged work there will be no value for the union.
It’s quite interesting to see that a group of people, especially women, come out of their silence to support TATA openly. On Monday (31^st may 2010), when women leader of BVJM cum Sarapanch of Gobarghati panchayat, Swarnalata Banara, came with her nearly 10 to 20 supporters to TATA work site and started throwing stones, they hardly had imagined to get a stiff opposition on the face from another group of women who supports TATA and have benefited from TATA. The tussle between the two groups lasted for almost 5 mins till the police came to rescue the BVJM members.

Three of the members from BVJM were arrested from the spot. However two were later released except the sarapanch who was sent to court.

I think the wind started blowing in support of TATA. Last night after the incident I made few calls to my hometown, KalingaNagar to get the details. Most of the people who are really displaced voiced out in support of TATA. They are getting full benefit from rehabilitation plan; they got home, job, money, medical facility and all...what more needed. It’s true that they have to leave their land, but come on, in each industrial process it’s the deal...few has to be displaced. But the point is we have to see that whether they have got enough bargain for that. In my view TATA at KalingaNagar is a better bargain to deal with.

Kalinga Nagar: Police Firing Reloaded

2010-05-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

If you are keen on English movies, you can find that most of the hit movies are having their sequels, for example, The Matrix and Matrix-Reloaded movie. Police firing incident in Kalinga Nagar is not less than a movie plot taking Odisha Govt, TATA Steel, Police and Administration and Poor Tribals as characters. How come a hit story not repeating the plot??? Keeping all the humanity and mercy to the bay, here comes another bloody incident of police firing in Kalinga Nagar, Kalinga Nagar: Police Firing Reloaded

Kalinga Nagar still gets foul dreams on police firing on 2nd Jan 2006 and today the incident repeated with one more person being killed and several injured in police firing in Kalinga Nagar, the steel hub of India.

The poor dead man was identified as Laxman Jamuda, a resident of Chandia village. If you have to believe the sounds of the bullets, the policemen have fired at least 10 rounds and ‘Laxman’ became the scapegoat between the police firing skills and protest by other fellow tribals. The incident happened as villagers were opposing construction of a common corridor road in the locality and they too opposed the entry on policemen into their villages.

As per other news sources, officials in both the police and administration were tight lipped about the firing incident. The irony does not end here as the leaders of Bisthapan Virodhi Jana Manch were also not available for their comments as mentioned by Kalinga times (May 12th, 2010). However, the district administration, in a statement, clarified that Laxman died of heatstroke. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, after his return from New Delhi, said, “I’m informed that nobody was killed in police firing. My government does not believe in violence. However, the matter will be looked into.”

The Predecessor of the incident smells as the trouble had started in the area when hundreds of policemen raided Baligotha village in the area on March 30 and resorted to lathi-charge and firing injuring about 40 persons.

Further Reading on Jan 2nd 2006 Police Firing:Police Firing at Kalinganagar: An Insider Introspect

The author is from Kalinga Nagar area and can be reached at kalinganagar@gmail.com

Orissa Govt's Plan To Include HIV-AIDS People In BPL List : A Review

2010-05-10T12:04:00.000-07:00

The Original story was published in Orissa Diary (Bhubaneswar, India) in 09 May 2010, and the story is as follows.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said his Government is planning to include HIV/AIDS affected persons of the State in the up–coming BPL list. Patnaik said his Government is taking steps to help AIDS–affected persons and their family to live normal life.

He said this while welcoming the AIDS campaigner Red Ribbon Express (RRE) at Mancheswar Railway station here amidst blowing of conch and other musical instruments by cultural troupes.

Addressing the gathering, Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadai said until today 1,150 people have been died in Odisha and 16,733 have remained affected with AIDS. Stating that Odisha is a low prevalence State having less than one per cent of AIDS patients in the country, the Joint Director of NACO Manyank Agrawal praised Odisha Government for taking many a steps for the AIDS affected. He also called upon volunteers to create awareness during its two days stay on May 9 and 10.

Disclaimer: The news story on this page is the copyright of the cited publication. This has been reproduced here for visitors to review, comment on and discuss. This is in keeping with the principle of ‘Fair dealing’ or ‘Fair use’. Visitors may click on the publication name, in the news story, to visit the original article as it appears on the publication’s website.

Critical Appraisal:

I think the step by Odisha govt will conflict the basic profile of the AIDS patient. This step is taken (as I think) believing on the fact that majority of the AIDS patients are poor, which is not true anymore. If it is so, then including them into BPL list will help those.

But the key profile of the AIDS patient is secrecy, no patient wants to be recognized and court has mandate to the hospitals to not to disclose their profile to the society. And making the patients fall into BPL list will label them as AIDS victim, and our society is not so broad minded to accept the fact (though steps are in full fledged to spread the awareness).

In my view, no AIDS patient will come forward to be known as an AIDS patient, forget about inclusion in the BPL list. And govt announcement has not specified anything regarding identification and inclusion process of AIDS patient into BPL list.

So it will be a better step, if taken, to spread awareness about AIDS rather than this kind of schemes.

Please to post your comments.

What happened in Orissa , Swami Lakshmananda Murder - Part 1

2010-05-09T04:20:00.001-07:00

A Documentary on the killing of Swami Lakshmananda ,Saraswathi , Orissa

What happened in Orissa , Swami Lakshmananda Murder - Part 2

2010-05-09T04:19:00.000-07:00

A Documentary on the killing of Swami Lakshmananda ,Saraswathi , Orissa

Please to post your comments

Jagannatha Temple: Discrimination Based on Birth

2010-05-09T04:09:00.000-07:00

Part of an interview with Jahnava Nitai Das in Orissa for an Indian television channel. Topic of the interview is Puri Jagannatha temple's policy barring foreigners from entering to worship the Lord.

Please post your comments...

Orissa now Odisha, Oriya becomes Odia

2009-10-24T20:20:00.000-07:00

Times of India, Oct 24, 2009

NEW DELHI: Just when you were getting used to Bengaluru, they've decided to add another tongue-twister to your vocabulary. Orissa is Odisha and Oriya is now Odia. And for anyone who says `what's in a name' ask director-producer Karan Johar who was forced to not just issue a public apology on the use of `Bombay' but also add a disclaimer to his film `Wake Up Sid'.

In times where being politically correct means not asking uncomfortable questions, the change in nomenclature was approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday without discussion. It will get Parliament's nod soon enough.

While Shiv Sena turned Bombay to Mumbai and similar political compulsions dictated changing Calcutta to Kolkata, our history is replete with examples of regional demands for name changing -- whether it is state, language, street or chowk. Erasing fancy sounding British names to earthy Indian ones is a favoured political pastime though it is unclear what dividend it pays.

The proposed change will now require an amendment to the first and eighth schedule of the Constitution which is likely to come up in Parliament soon.

The Orissa assembly had moved a resolution in August to change the state's name to Odisha and its official language from Oriya to Odia, saying the names had been used wrongly. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik moved the resolution in the House which was approved by a voice vote.

Officials said the state was keen to change its name owing to disparities in pronunciation due to the wrong spelling of the state's name. It is written as Udisa in Hindi and Orissa in English.

Major cities that have been renamed after Independence include Kanpur (formerly Cawnpore), Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Mumbai (Bombay), Chennai (Madras), Kolkata (Calcutta), Pune (Poona) and Kochi (Cochin).

Police Firing at Kalinganagar: An Insider Introspect

2009-10-22T03:51:00.000-07:00

Monday, 2nd January, 2006. Sounds of bullets echoed in Kalinganagar. 12 tribal were killed in the police firing of Kalinganagar. The 12 plate like stone pillar are standing as witness to the incident near Ambagadi village of Kalinganagar.

Let’s keep all the anguish aside and ask any of the residents of Kalinganagar, “Do you support industrialization (especially TATA) at Kalinganagar?” The answer will be unanimously ‘YES’. Do you want to ask how do I know? The answer is I am a native of Kalinganagar from the day I know my world and from the day the area was distributed as few small villages trying to figure themselves in the Orissa map. You can say, I saw the birth of today’s Kalinganagar, the steel hub of India.

Then why all the hue and cry over the issue?

The Issue:

In my view, it’s more political than social. The tragedy was an unforeseen incident against the backdrop of well intentioned move of government to bring Orissa to a conspicuous position in All India Industrial map.

There were lots of loose ends as per my understanding. The major flaws were

• Inadequate compensation

• Difference in purchasing price of land per acre from the locals with the selling price to the industries

• Compensation to the locals only having land records (as it’s a hilly region and most of the displaced people are having no land records fails the criteria)

• Compensation pocketed by third parties

• Great Delay in compensation money reimbursement

• Corruption in all the administrative levels

• Land fraud

All these were fueled by vested interest groups, nexus of local touts and politicians, corrupt and inefficient administrative machinery.

Whatever may be the situation nobody wanted to kill innocent tribal. It’s for sure. Whatever happened, is just a tragedy happened unintentionally.

Role of Politics:

The industrialization was begun by Late Biju Pattnatak with the MESCO at Jakhapura with Lord Swaraj Paul (Indian born, UK citizen). This incident greatly accelerated the industrialization and so many small and big industry houses eyed on Orissa, mostly Kalinganagar area for setting up their base. But something tragic happened and in the next election Biju Pattanayak led Janata Dal was defeated. To gain political mileage Mr Janaki Ballv Pattanayak, inaguareted Mesco Steels at Manapur in hurry and the proposed big dream was just a dream. But the irony was, congress party could not get the mileage what they thought to get.

The situation made a U-turn with the tragic demise of Biju Pattanayak. All the other political leaders of Janata Dal thought of it as a great chance to capitalize the sympathy and enjoy the power by inviting a ‘puppet’ in place of Biju Pattanayak. They made one f the greatest mistake of their life by dragging Naveen pattanaik into politics. But it did not take much time for the Delhi University graduate to learn how to play the cards in politics and Naveen Pattanayak. A year later he formed Biju Janata Dal and came into power. His handling of the bureaucracy has been exceptional. Like his father he had managed to control the otherwise errant and greedy bureaucracy and have transformed it to a machine for the development of the state. Gradually the pace of the industrialization in Orissa started to accelerate and Kalinganagar emerged as a future Steel hub of India.

The pace of industrial progress made the Political opponents jealous and wanted to checkmate Naveen Patnaik. They wanted a ground. Mass propaganda was being carried out how POSCO will destroy Orissa, how steel plants would do more damage to locals than benefits etc.

I am not saying that all the allegations of the people and the unions those who object POSCO etc are baseless, but at the same time I am not at all agreeing the way the political parties represented the entire issue. For a person who knows abc of economics will analyze the aspects of industrialization through cost-benefit-analysis angel and if there is any lacuna then make it noticed so that it will be rectified before time to limit the damage and enhance benefit. But there were hidden political interests and publicity of demerits were mere ploy to accentuate those interests.

All these led to the unfortunate incident to happen and the rest is history. Political interests have now been laid bare. Congress now wants to discuss only Kalinganagar in the Assembly, state and restate through speeches, newspapers and by anything possible. And recently the errant BJP is also warming the hands with the Congress to burn its anger on Naveen Pattanayak.

The dark side:

It is said that ‘Solution lies, where the problem is’. But to the irony, nobody is interested to discuss details about reasons which made the incident so dirty. It’s not only me but also any sensible person of Kalinganagar believes that by analyzing the following basic issues the problem can be easily solved. The major issues were

• The role of local Tehsildar and other concerned officials in the land deals

• The compensation package and disbursing procedure followed during the last 10 years

• Details of land transfers in the area

• Procedural mistakes where exactly package for displaced people went wrong

Now a days, some political parties and unions are echoing the sentence, ‘Naveen Hatao, Sukinda Banchao’ (Replace Naveen, Save Sukinda (Kalinganagar is a part of Sukinda assembly constituency)). I have never seen such foolish slogan which actually meant, issue is to push Naveen out of power, not sorting the problems affecting the tribal.

Mistake of the Govt:

It takes two to make a quarrel. By saying its all the fault of the political opponent and sitting in the AC room with so called intelligent (actually useless) bureaucrats to wait for a miracle to happen to solve the issue is like waiting for the flood to clean the courtyard. The Govt should be more proactive and should do much more than announcing relief packages day in and day out.

It has to find the answer for

• Why the displacement packages failed to deliver?

• Why the local legislator could not gauge the simmering discontentment of the villagers

• What is the view of the local people, not the view of the local leaders?

• What is the way to remove third party pocketing compensation package ?

• What is making the so called big companies to delay in giving compensation?

But do you think Mr. Naveen Pattanayak is having time to analyze the root cause rather than assuring the people ‘Everything is fine, Orissa is growing’. Time will say, what will happen.

But the greatest tragedy is that those who lost their lives or those who are continuing the month long economic blockade are blissfully unaware of the political dice game.

17 districts of Orissa declared Naxal hit

2009-10-13T09:37:00.000-07:00

Naxala issues is becoming one of the main threat to India's internal security. In the last three years at least 2600 people laid to death in Naxal related violence. Out of all states like Orissa, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar witnessed maximum violence. From January 2006 to August 2009, there are 2212 loss of life in these states due to Naxal related violence.

Out of 30 districts of Orissa, 17 have already been declared as Naxal hit districts. Central govt has taken few initiatives to prevent the violence. A plan has been proposed to hit back the Naxals with a mammoth 40,000 paramilitary forces. Rs. 7300 crore package has been declared to develop the Naxal hit areas.

It is to be note that the Naxal movement has started by Mr Charu Mazumdar of CPI (Maoist) in May 15th 1967 in protest of the killing of a farmers by some influential people due to some land dispute. This year CPI(Maoist) has been banned by the Govt.

The History of Orissa: An Introduction

2009-10-12T17:11:00.000-07:00

The history of Orissa makes an interesting case-study in that it's history is in many ways atypical from that of the northern plains and many of the common generalizations that are made about Indian history do not seem to apply to the Oriya region.

The word Oriya is an anglicised version of Odia which itself is a modern name for the Odra or Udra tribes that inhabited the central belt of modern Orissa. Orissa has also been the home of the Kalinga and Utkal tribes that played a particularly prominent role in the region's history, and one of the earliest references to the ancient Kalingas appears in the writings of Vedic chroniclers. In the 6th C. BC, Vedic Sutrakara Baudhayana mentions Kalinga as being beyond the Vedic fold, indicating that Brahminical influences had not yet touched the land. Unlike some other parts of

India

, tribal customs and traditions played a significant role in shaping political structures and cultural practices right up to the 15th C. when Brahminical influences triumphed over competing traditions and caste differentiation began to inhibit social mobility and erode what had survived of the ancient republican tradition.

Kalinga

Very early in Kalingan history, the Kalingas acquired a reputation for being a fiercely independant people. Ashoka's military campaign against Kalinga was one of the bloodiest in Mauryan history on account of the fearless and heroic resistance offered by the Kalingas to the mighty armies of the expanding Mauryan empire. Perhaps on account of their unexpected bravery, emperor Ashoka was compelled to issue two edicts specifically calling for a just and benign administration in Kalinga.

Unsurprisingly, Mauryan rule over Kalinga did not last long. By the 1st C. BC, Kalinga's Jain identified ruler Kharavela had become the pre-eminent monarch of much of the sub-continent and Mauryan

Magadha

had become a province of the Kalingan empire. The earliest surviving monuments of Orissa (in Udaigiri near Bhubaneshwar) date from his reign, and surviving inscriptions mention that Prince Kharavela was trained not only in the military arts, but also in literature, mathematics, and the social sciences. He was also reputed to be a great patron of the arts and was credited with encouraging dance and theater in his capital.

Although the bravery of the Kalingas became legendary, and finds mention in the Sahitya Darpan, it is important to note that a hereditary warrior caste like the Kshatriyas did not take hold in the region. Soldiers were drawn from the peasantry as needed and rank in the military depended as much on fighting skills and bravery as on hereditary factors. In this (and other) respects, Oriya history resembles more the history of the nations of South East Asia, and may have been one of the features of Oriya society that allowed it to successfully fend off 300 years of raids initiated by numerous Islamic rulers untill the 16th century.

Metallurgy, Crafts and Trade

Owing to it's vast mineral resources, metallurgy developed quite naturally in ancient Orissa and may have been an additional factor in catapulting the region to considerable importance during the iron age. Iron tools were used in agricultural production, digging irrigation canals, stone-quarrying, cave excavation and later monumental architecture. Rice cultivation got a particular fillip and during the iron age irrigation works from Orissa spread to the regions of ancient Andhra and Tamil Nadu around 300 BC (See M.S. Randhawa: A history of agriculture in India, Vol. 1. New Delhi.) Orissa also became a major steel producing centre and steel beams were extensively used in the monumental temples of Bhubaneshwar and Puri.

Being a coastal region, maritime trade played an important role in the development of Oriya civilization. Cultural, commercial and political contacts with South East Asia, particularly Southern Burma, Malaysia and Indonesia were especially extensive and maritime enterprises play an interesting part in Oriya folk-tales and poetry. Historical records suggest that around the 7th C. AD, the Kongoda dynasty from central Orissa may have migrated to Malaysia and

Indonesia

. There is also evidence of exchange of embassies with

China

. Records of Oriya traders being active in the ports of South East Asia are fairly numerous and in his descriptions of Malacca, Portuguese merchant Tome Pires indicates that traders from Orissa were active in the busy port as late as the 16th C.

(There is evidence to suggest that trade contact between Eastern India and Thailand may date as far back as the 3rd or 4th C BC. Himanshu Ray (The Winds of Change - Buddhism and the Maritime Links of Early South Asia) suggests that at least eight oceanic routes linked the Eastern Coast of India with the Malayan pensinsula, and after the Iron Age, metals (such as iron, copper and tin), cotton textiles and foodstuffs comprised the trade. She also suggests that the trade involved both Indian and Malayo-Polynesian ships. Archealogical evidence from Sisupalgarh (near Bhubaneshwar) in Orissa suggests that there may also have been direct or indirect trade contacts between ancient Orissa and Rome dating to the 1st-2nd C AD (or possibly earlier). The chronicles of Huen Tsang refer to Orissa's overseas contacts in the 7th C, and by the 10th C, records of Orissa's trade with the East begin to proliferate.)

Adequate agricultural production combined with a flourishing maritime trade contributed to a flowering of Orissan arts and crafts especially textiles. Numerous communities of weavers and dyers became active throughout the state perfecting techniques like weaving of fine Muslins, Ikat, Sambalpuri and Bomkai silks and cottons, applique and embroidery. Orissa was also known for it's brass and bell metal work, lacquered boxes and toys, intricate ivory, wood and stone carvings, patta painting and palm leaf engraving, basket weaving and numerous other colorful crafts. Often, decorative techniques relied on folk idioms as in the painted, circular playing cards known as Ganjifas.

Later, Cuttack became the centre for lace-like exquisite silver filigree work, (known as Tarakashi) when Orissa was brought under Mughal rule.

Philosophy, Language and Idealogy

Both Buddhism and Jainism played an important role in the cultural and philosophical developments of early Oriya civilization. Most Buddhist and Jain texts were written in Pali-Prakrit and the Prakrita Sarvasva, a celebrated Prakrit grammar text was authored by Markandeya Das, an Oriya. Kharavela's Hatigumpha

inscription is in Pali, leading to the speculation that Pali may have been the original language of the Oriya people.

By the 7th C. AD, Brahminism had also become influential, especially in the courts and Hiuen Tsang (the well-known Chinese chronicler) observed how Buddhist Viharas and Brahminic temples flourished side by side. And although royal inscriptions of this time were in Sanskrit, the most commonly spoken language was not, and according to Hiuen Tsang appeared to be quite distinct from the language of Central India, and may have been a precursor of modern day Oriya.

But even as the Bhauma Kings of the 6th-8th C issued edicts in Sanskrit, they patronized numerous Buddhist institutions and the art, architecture and poetry of the period reflected the popularity of Buddhism in the region.

Later, Orissa's Buddhism came to be modulated by strong Tantric influences, while a more traditional Vedic and Brahminical version of Hinduism was brought to Orissa by Brahmins from Kannauj. Shaivism from the South was institutionalized in Puri. In addition, the majority of Orissa's adivasis continued to practice some form of animism and totem-worship. Unifying all these different traditions was the Shiva-Shakti cult which evolved from an amalgamation of Shaivism (worship of Shiva), Shaktism (worship of the Mother Goddess) and the Vajrayana, or Tantric form of Mahayana Buddism.

What made possible this fusion was that apart from the formal distinctions that separated these different religious and philosophical trends, in practical matters, there was a growing similiarity between them. Whereas early Buddhism and the Nyaya school within Hinduism had laid considerable stress on rationalism and scientific investigation of nature, later Buddhism and the Shaivite schools both emphasized philosphical variants of concepts first developed in the Upanishads, along with mysticism and devotion. Tantrism had also developed along a dual track - on the one hand it had laid emphasis on gaining practical knowledge and a clear understanding of nature - on the other, it too came steeped in mysticism and magic.

At the same time, the Buddhist ethos had created an environment where compromise was preferred to confrontation. This allowed tribal deities and gods and goddesses associated with numerous fertility cults to be integrated into the Hindu pantheon. Tantric constructs also met with some degree of approval.

Since Tantrism emphasized the erotic as a means to spiritual salvation, the culture of austerity and sexual abstinence that had pervaded early Buddhism was replaced with an unapologetic embrace of all that was erotic.

Unlike some other parts of

India

, Oriya society had not yet been deeply differentiated by caste, and egalitarian values remained well-ingrained amongst the peasant masses. Hence, any idealogy that championed a hierarchical division of society would have been unacceptable. The Shiva Shakti cult was a compromise in that while it did not exclude social inequality, it did not preclude social mobility either. In fact, the cult became popular precisely because it articulated the possibility of upward mobility through the acquisition of knowledge, skill or energetic personal effort.

Yogini Cults

Tantric influences were of particular import for the survival of the Yogini cults in Orissa. The Yogini cults concentrated on worship of the shakti (female life force), with a belief in the efficacy of magic ritual. In ancient texts, Yoginis are depicted as consorts of Yogis, and like their male companions practiced yoga to gain mastery over science and acquire magical powers. Some tantric schools associated with the Yogini cults such as the Kaula Marga prescribed Maithuna (sexual intercourse) with outcast women or women of low caste as the most consummate soul-lifting experience. Although Yogini cults were not unique to Orissa, two out of four surviving Yogini temples are to be found in Hirapur and Ranipur-Jharial.

The Hirapur temple is ascribed to the Bhauma and Somavansi rulers of Orissa (mid 8th - mid 10th C. AD) who were known for their eclectic liberalism and noted for their patronage of philosophy, art, architecture and literature.

Popular Literature

While the literature of the court and the intelligentsia was primarily written in Sanskrit, and included a variety of commentaries and theoretical treatises on religion, politics, art and literature as well as reworks of the epics, popular literature in Oriya initially focused on folk tales, ballades, creation myths, devotional songs, love poetry and erotica.

But in the 15th century, the Gangas who were patrons of many of Orissa's monumental temples were defeated by Kapilendra Deva, who rose from the ranks to found the Surya dynasty. It was in his reign that Sarala Das wrote a popular Oriya version of the Mahabharatha. Sarala Das arose from a peasant family and took his name from the goddess Sarala who was worshipped in his village in the district of Cuttack. He described himself as an unschooled 'Shudra' and became popularly known as Shudra-muni. Although the broad themes his Mahabharatha match other traditional versions, there is much that was original and written with a popular sensibility. His version knitted in local folk tales and ballads, and incorporated the ethical and moral values then embraced by the artisan class and peasantry.

The Chandi Purana, also written by Sarala Das referred to Yoginis as forms of the Devi or the Supreme Goddess illustrating the continued popular appeal of the Yogini cults in Orissa's coastal belt.

Thus what emerged in Orissa from the 9th century on was a heady cocktail of mystical and practical currents that allowed for a certain degree of social mobility and provided space for ordinary peasants to make contributions to popular literature and poetry.

This stimulated the popularity of reading and since there were no taboos against learning Oriya, literacy spread in the villages and such popular literature developed a wide mass following. A network of village libraries housed popular texts in neatly transcribed versions. Illuminated manuscripts and illustrated epics also became popular. By some accounts, literacy in many villages reached 40% or more before the onslaught of colonial rule.

Decline of Oriya Civilization

The first signsof decline in Oriya society came as the administrators of the Ganga and Surya kings began to usurp undue privileges and acquire a greater number of hereditary rights. At the same time, religious affairs began to be dominated by the Puri Brahmins who were instrumental in promoting ever increasing ritual and unprecedented ceremonial pomp during religious festivals. Tribal deities were slowly edged out as Brahminical gods acquired supremacy. Social mobility declined and the first concrete appearances of a formalized caste system began to appear. The Patnaiks, Mahapatras, Nayakas and others who had played a major role in the royal adminstration, along with the Brahmins comprised the upper-caste elite as social stratification crystallized.

The silting up of Orissa's major rivers in the 16th C. led to a severe decline in maritime trade and may have further aggravated socially regressive trends. Orissa also suffered decisive defeats at the hands of Raja Man Singh (Akbar's military general) and the Marathas, leaving it dismembered and particularly vulnerable against the British who colonized it soon after the victory in Bengal.

Orissa during Colonial Rule
Like much of

India

, colonial rule had a devastating impact on the economic and social life of the Oriya people. Numerous categories of crafts workers, especially weavers and dyers were bankrupted and reduced to abject poverty. The peasantry suffered under the burden of back-breaking taxes and forced unpaid labour. But the Oriyas did not accept subjugation without putting up heroic resistance. Just three years after British occupation, Jayakrishna Rajguru - hereditary priest of the Gajapatis (or the Rajas of Khurda) organized a revolt that ended in tragic defeat and his public hanging at the hands of the British. In 1818 there was another revolt when the entire state rose up under the leadership of Bakshi Jagabandhu Vidyadhara of Khurda. For six months the people of Southern Orissa were practically freed from British rule but in the end the rebellion was ruthlessly quelled and the aftermath was to be disastrous.

The nobility was systematically decimated, the Paikas - the national militia were disarmed and disinherited, and the peasantry already reduced to virtual slavery. All administrative posts not directly handled by the British were assigned to Bengalis who were perceived to be more loyal to British rule. From local police constables to assistant school teachers - Bengalis were hired but Oriyas excluded. Bengali chauvinists in Calcutta defended such a regime, some even going to the extent of demanding that all Oriyas be taught in Bengali since Oriya was nothing but a minor dialect of Bengali.

Even as urban Bengal received a few concessions like the founding of universities and cultural societies - Orissa was reduced to a minor outpost of the colonial empire - a cultural wasteland. Orissa's future was now inextricably linked to the growth of the national struggle in Bengal and the rest of the country, and any hint of growth in the national movement naturally drew enthusiastic support from nationalist-minded Oriyas.

Although independence brought about dramatic improvements in the lives of all sections of the population, two centuries of damage wrought by colonial rule could not be easily undone after independence. As evident from recent census results, high levels of poverty and illiteracy continue to dog the state.

For Orissa to regain it's ancient vitality, it will require not only greater sympathy from other Indians but a conscious programme of affirmative action from the centre that promotes mass education and employment opportunities so that Orissa can fully join the Indian mainstream as a vibrant and equal member of the Indian union.

Note: References to ancient Orissa may well include parts of Jharkhand, Southern Bengal, Chhatisgarh and Northern Andhra - which at various times were politically integrated into the different kingdoms of ancient and medieval Orissa.

References:

1. History of Oriya Literature: Mayadhar Mansinha (Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi)

2. Bulletins of the Indian Historical Review (Indian Council of Historical Research) and issues of Social Science Probings (Ed. R. S. Sharma)

Visual History: Images of Orissa History (http://members.tripod.com/~IMAGE_INDIA/Orissa.html)