Odisha, formerly Orissa, is a state located in Eastern India. It is the eighth-largest state by area, and the eleventh-largest by population, with over 41 million inhabitants. The state also has the third-largest population of Scheduled Tribes in India. It neighbours the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal to the north, Chhattisgarh to the west, and Andhra Pradesh to the south. Odisha has a coastline of 485 kilometres (301 mi) along the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean. The region is also known as Utkaḷa and is mentioned by this name in India's national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. The language of Odisha is Odia, which is one of the Classical languages of India.
Bhubaneswar is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Odisha. It is located in the Khordha district. The suburban region, especially the old town, was historically often depicted as Chakra Khetra and Ekamra Khetra. Bhubaneswar is dubbed the "Temple City", a nickname earned because of many temples which are standing there. In contemporary times, the city is a hub of sports, tourism and IT in the country.
Berhampur is a city on the eastern coastline of Odisha, India.
Cuttack, is the former capital, deputy capital and the 2nd largest city of the Indian state of Odisha. It is also the headquarters of the Cuttack district. The name of the city is an anglicised form of the Odia and Sanskrit name Kataka, which literally means the fort, a reference to the ancient Barabati Fort around which the city initially developed. Cuttack is known as the Millennium City as well as the Silver City due to its history of 1000 years and famous silver filigree works respectively. The Orissa High Court and some other Odisha State Govt. offices are located there, and the city is the judiciary capital of Odisha. It is the commercial capital of Odisha, which hosts many trading and business houses in and around the city. The city is famous for strongly holding the sense of fraternity and brotherhood. The city is famous in Orissa for some types of food, such as the Thunkapuri, Dahibara, Lassi, various kinds of Chat etc. Amongst all districts in Orissa, the undivided Cuttack district is famous for its tasty delicacies and sweets. Cuttack is famous for its Durga Puja, which is one of the most important festivals of Odisha. Being the favourite destination of poets and artists, it is also a cultural hub of Odisha. Due to its beauty, the term Kataka Nagara Dhabala Tagara is coined for it. The city is categorised as a Tier II city as per the ranking system used by the Government of India.
Bijayananda Patnaik was an Indian politician and aviator. He served as the 3rd Chief Minister of the State of Odisha from 1961 to 1963 and from 1990 to 1995. He was also the 14th Steel and mines and 1st Coal Union Minister of India from 1979 to 1980 and from 1977 to 1979 and a member of Lok Sabha from Kendrapara from 1977 to 1985. He is the father of Naveen Patnaik, also a former CM of Odisha.
The Karan or Karana is a community found in the state of Odisha in India. The post of Karana used to be a professional designation that was occupied by literate peoples. They held Karanam posts in some parts of Andhra Pradesh, where they speak Odia and played a similar role in Odisha to that of the Kayasthas of West Bengal and Bihar. In the social hierarchy of Odisha they rank next to Brahmins. They exclusively served the ruling powers as their ministers, advisors, governors, military commanders, record keepers and dewans. They owned most Zamindaris in Odisha. They have the highest literacy caste-wise and are highly prosperous. Today they are a politically dominant community and have reigned over the politics of Odisha for 50 years.
Previously a neglected aspect of the Indian Central government, Education in Odisha is witnessing a rapid transformation. Its capital city, Bhubaneswar along with Cuttack, are emerging as a knowledge hub in India with several new public and private universities, including the establishment of an Indian Institute of Technology after five decades of demand.
Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) is a public state university located in Rourkela, Odisha, India. It was established on 21 November 2002 and named after Biju Patnaik, a former Chief Minister of Odisha.
Mrinal Chatterjee is an Indian academic and author. He heads the Indian Institute of Dhenkanal. He has authored five academic books on media studies in Odia, including History of Journalism in Odisha and Glossary of Terms for Media Persons. His has authored ten novels and seven short story collections in Odia, including Jagate Thiba Jate Dina published (2010), Kandhei (2013), Eka Sundar Chandini Ratire (2016), Yamraj Chutire (2015), Yamraj Number 5003 (2016), which is translated into Assamese, and a series of columns in Odia
Odia diaspora are people of Odia ancestry residing outside the Indian state of Odisha.
Brajanath Ratha was an Indian poet who wrote in Odia. Brajanath Ratha is internationally recognised and is the recipient of many prestigious awards like the Odisha Sahitya Academy Award, Vishuba Award, Gokarnika Award, First Shudramuni Sahitya Award and Honoured by South Korea's Ambassador, from Global Cooperation Society International, Seol, Republic of Korea for Contribution in World welfare, Cooperation and Services.
Soumya Ranjan Patnaik is an Indian politician and the founder-editor of the Odia daily Sambad. He is also a feature film producer as well as a successful business personality. He was elected to 11th Lok Sabha from Bhubaneswar on Indian National Congress ticket. After he was expelled from Congress he floated a new political party 'Aama Odisha Party' (AOP). He is married to Sudatta Patnaik, daughter of Janaki Ballabh Patnaik and Jayanti Patnaik. He is the brother of former OPCC President and former Minister Niranjan Patnaik.
Bhupen Mahapatra is an Odia novelist, columnist, and short story writer.
Nikhilanand Panigrahy is an Indian science writer and columnist from Odisha. He has been contributing regularly to a variety of prominent Oriya news papers and magazines since 1973.
Namrata Mohanty is an Odia singer based in Cuttack, Odisha, India. She is a B-High grade singer of All India Radio (AIR), Cuttack since 1983. She is a science graduate from Brahmapur University. She was undergoing her Masters degree, but discontinued her studies because of illness.
Subrat Kumar Prusty is an Indian Odia-language scholar, activist, social entrepreneur, literary critic and author. He is Member Secretary of the Institute of Odia Studies and Research, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. He was instrumental in preparing the research documents, advocating the awarding of Classical Language status to Odia, forming Central Institute of Classical Odia, Odia University and implementation of the Odisha Official Language Act, 1954. He was awarded the Presidential Certificate of Honour and Maharshi Badrayan Vyas Samman – 2019 for Classical Odia.
Sarat Kumar Kar was a politician and writer from Odisha, India. He was a member of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) political party.
Sakala is an Indian newspaper of Odia language which is published daily from Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It is one of the fastest growing Odia newspapers in Odisha. It is published from the capital city of Bhubaneswar, as well as from Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Balasore, Jajpur, Jeypore, and Angul. The first edition of this newspaper was published on December 1, 2020, in Bhubaneswar. Dr. Umakanta Mishra, joined as editor of the Sakala.
Odisha University of Health Sciences (OUHS) is a public state medical university located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, established in 2023 by an Odisha University of Health Sciences, Act 2021 of the Odisha Legislative Assembly.
Motiullah Nazish is an Indian Urdu-language poet, writer and educator, known for his contributions to Urdu prose and criticism. A founding member of the Odisha Urdu Academy, he has worked to promote Urdu literature and education in Odisha. His notable works include Aks-e-Baseerat, Odisha Mein Urdu Nasr Nigari, and Odisha Ke Mujahideen-e-Azadi.
