UTKALA DIBASA 

April 1 is celebrated as Odisha Day, or Utkala Dibasa, in the state of Odisha. This commemorates the day in 1936 when a separate Odisha state (then known as Orissa) was established by carving it out from the erstwhile Bihar and Orissa Province, and with the addition of Koraput and Ganjam districts from the Madras Presidency.

According to "The Origin Story of India’s States" (2021), this historical event makes Odisha one of only two Indian states with a formation date predating Independence, the other being Bihar. Additionally, Odisha holds the distinction of being the first state in the country to be consciously created on a linguistic basis.

2. Evolution of Odisha's Political Identity

• Before the creation of the Bihar and Orissa Provinces, the region known today as Odisha had already developed a distinct political identity around 3,000 years ago. Over time, it was ruled by various local dynasties, fostering a unique and vibrant culture.
• However, in 1568, Odisha lost its political independence and identity when it was conquered by the Bengal Sultanate. Subsequently, it came under the rule of the Marathas and then fell under British control in 1803. For the following 109 years, Odisha remained a part of the Bengal Presidency, although there was a growing movement advocating for the creation of a separate Odia-speaking state in the late 19th century.
• The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed a lively movement for the creation of Bihar from the Bengal Presidency. This movement was fueled by various grievances of the Hindi-speaking populations within the presidency, including issues such as the dominance of the Bengali middle-class in white-collar jobs and their perceived cultural superiority.
• Finally, on March 22, 1912, the Bihar and Orissa Province was established, comprising the non-Bengali speaking regions of the Bengal Presidency, thus marking a significant chapter in the evolution of Odisha's political landscape.

• The establishment of the Bihar and Orissa Province did not bring significant changes to the ground reality in Odia-speaking districts. Consequently, the movement for an exclusively Odia-speaking state gained momentum after this development.
• In its early stages during the second half of the 19th century, the movement for Odisha's statehood was part of a broader wave of cultural revival movements across India. It looked back to Odisha's ancient past, as evidenced by the formation of Utkal Sabha in 1882, deriving its name from "Utkal," the region's name mentioned in the Mahabharata. This marked the initial step toward a political movement advocating for Odisha's separate identity.
• By 1903, Utkal Sammilani, led by Madhusudan Das, emerged as a prominent force in the statehood movement. Madhusudan Das, also known as Madhu 'Babu,' played a crucial role in shaping Odisha's political landscape. He continued his efforts within the united Bihar and Orissa province's legislature, championing the cause of statehood.
• The turning point came around 1920 when the Indian National Congress embraced the reorganization of provinces based on linguistic lines as a key agenda. This led to the creation of the Orissa Province in 1936 following thorough investigations by three separate committees. The decision was influenced by the rising sub-nationalism in the province, coupled with administrative and political considerations favouring a separate state.
• The new Orissa Province was formed by carving out territories from the existing Bihar and Orissa Province (42% of land area and 66% of the population), Madras Province (53% of land area and 31.7% of the population), and Central Provinces (5% of land area and 2.3% of the population). However, it's worth noting that 26 princely states under the Eastern States Agency remained within the borders of Orissa Province until Independence.