Why is it in the news?
- Odisha Day, also known as Utkala Dibasa, is celebrated on April 1 in the state of Odisha.
More about the news
- Odisha, formerly known as Orissa, was established as a separate state on April 1, 1936.
- It was carved out from the erstwhile Bihar and Orissa Province, along with the inclusion of Koraput and Ganjam districts from the Madras Presidency.
- Odisha was one of the first Indian states to be consciously created on a linguistic basis.
- The region of Odisha had a unique political identity dating back approximately 3,000 years.
- In 1568, Odisha lost its political independence and came under the rule of various powers including the Bengal Sultanate and the Marathas before British control in 1803.
- Despite being a part of the Bengal Presidency for 109 years, movements for an Odia-speaking state emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- The Utkal Sabha, formed in 1882, marked the beginning of the political movement for the creation of Odisha.
- Madhusudan Das, a prominent leader, played a significant role in spearheading the statehood movement.
- The Indian National Congress adopted the reorganization of provinces on a linguistic basis as part of its agenda after 1920.
- The Orissa Province was created in 1936 following thorough inquiries by three separate committees, amidst growing sub-nationalism and administrative considerations.
