Odisha Government Moves to Restore Original Odia Names for Places Across the State
In a significant step to preserve cultural heritage, the Odisha government has intensified its efforts to restore the original Odia names of various places within the state. The initiative targets names that have been distorted into English forms, primarily introduced during the British colonial era for ease of pronunciation.
Government Directs District Collectors for Detailed Examination
Arabinda Padhee, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, issued a directive on Saturday to all district collectors. He has asked them to thoroughly examine the current English names used in official records for districts, district headquarters, subdivisions, blocks, and tehsils. The goal is to identify instances where these names are distorted versions of their authentic Odia counterparts and to submit proposals for correction.
In his official letter, Padhee emphasized that many English names in use today are misrepresentations that originated under British rule. The government now aims to rectify these historical inaccuracies and reinstate the proper Odia names to honor the state's linguistic and cultural identity.
Examples of Proposed Name Corrections
To illustrate the issue, Padhee cited the case of Aali in Kendrapada district, which is officially recorded as Aul in English—a spelling adopted during British times due to pronunciation challenges. This example underscores the broader pattern of distortion that the correction exercise seeks to address.
The department had previously sought detailed reports from all districts on this matter last month. So far, information has been received from 13 districts, leading to consultations with MLAs, MPs, and the general public to gather opinions on proposed changes. Several new proposals have emerged from this process, including:
- Correcting Barbil in Keonjhar district to Badbil
- Changing Rairakhol in Sambalpur district to Redhakhol
- Renaming Nayagarh to Nayagada
Additionally, the department has proposed adjustments to the spellings of other locations, such as:
- Khurda to Khoradha
- Angul to Anugol
- Kendrapara to Kendrapada
- Keonjhar to Kendujhar
- Balasore to Baleshwar
Public Suggestions and Revised Proposals
Following these initial efforts, residents from Cuttack and Berhampur have suggested renaming their districts to Kataka and Brahmapur, respectively, reflecting a growing public interest in the restoration of original names.
District collectors have now been instructed to re-examine the earlier reports and submit revised proposals within seven days. They are also encouraged to include any fresh suggestions that may arise during this review. Padhee stated that a comprehensive report will be compiled soon and presented to the government for final consideration, paving the way for official changes.
This initiative not only aims to correct linguistic errors but also to strengthen cultural pride and historical accuracy in Odisha's administrative framework.
