Why was Odisha the 1st state to be formed on a linguistic basis, 17 yrs before Andhra State?
While the rest of India was fighting a centralized battle against the British, leaders like Madhusudan Das & Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati were playing a different game.
They leveraged the British fragmentation strategy against them. By proving that Odia culture was being smothered by the Bengal & Madras Presidencies, they forced the British to create a separate province in 1936 as a stability move. It was a masterclass in diplomatic maneuvering that set the blueprint for the entire map of modern India.
Greetings on the special occasion of Utkala Dibasa. Odisha is a state that stands tall as a timeless symbol of cultural as well as spiritual greatness. Odia music, art and literature have enriched India in countless ways. The people of Odisha, known for their determination, simplicity and warmth, have made remarkable contributions across fields. May Odisha keep scaling new heights of progress in the times to come.