Published Paper Details:

Sambalpur is the hub of Western Odisha. It has unique cultural heritage. West Odisha was inside the jurisdiction of Central Provinces in 1862 A.D. It was known as' Odia Country' in government records, Odia was the official language for certain administrative inconveniences like problem faced by Hindi officials in non-Hindi areas. In the other hand the Odias, who form a linguistic minority lost their identity in these provinces and their welfare got neglected. There was a tendency of powerful linguistic and cultural organisation of the Bengalil, Telugu and Hindi-speaking people to dominate over the Odia minorities and their culture. Odia language faced and uphill task in its struggle for survival. The Odia Movement in the 19th century precisely aimed as safeguarding the Odia language and culture. The active leaders of Sambalpur like Balabhadra Supakar,BrajaMohan Pattanaik, Mahanta Bihari Das, Madanmohan Mishra and Sripati Mishra urged for a separate political identity of their own. There were popular agitation in Sambalpur, demanding proper justice from the Government. The cause of he Odia language and Odia culture was espoused by local newspaper particularly " Sambalpur Hitaisini". In creating a strong awaking for political identity of the scattered Odia race, credit should be given to Sir Basudev Sudhal Dev, Bhima Bhoi, Gangadhar Meher. Lastly, it was announced that the new Odisha province would came into being on 1st April 1936 with Sir John Austin Hubback as the first Governor.