Jharkhand State Formation Day
By;Tejeswar Parida
Posted;Odishabarta
New State of Jharkhad was created on 15th November 2000. Southern part of Jharkhand which borders the Northern and North Western part of Odisha, is dominated by Odia Speaking People.Odia language is the 2nd Official Language of Jharkhand. Districts like Sareikala-Kharsuan, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Simdega, Khunti, Gumla, Ranchi, Bokaro etc. have large number of Odia Speaking people.Though Odisha was created in 1936 as a new State on the basis of language Odia, but large part could not be included in the geographical boundary of Odisha State. Same is the case for Odia speaking people in Chhatisgarh, Andhra Pradesh & West Bengal. I have personally visited and interacted with Odia people in Chhatisgarh bordering Kalahandi, Nabarangpur & Koraput Districts and Odia people in Andhra Pradesh bordering Ganjam, Gajapati & Koraput Districts. But every time I met the Odias in these areas mentioned, it was very painful for me. Majority of them have not forgotten Odia Culture. I remember I had visited a small town in Chhattisgarh named Deobhog in Gariaband District of Chhattisgarh and adjacent to Dharmagarh town of Kalahandi District of Odisha. I was told by local Odia ppl that earlier Rice from this area used to be taken for Lord Jagannath at Puri for Mahaprasad (for preparation of Bhog to Debata/Lord Jagannath), so the name of this small town is Deobhog and mostly resided by Odia speaking communities. I was on my way to Chandahandi in Nabarangpur District of Odisha via Chhatisgarh from Dharmagarh and found many Shops on village roads with Odia language Signboards. People have not yet forgotten Odia language & dialect. Similarl things I have seen in Andhra Pradesh.
This morning I found a Tweet from Hon’ble Prime Minister wishing people of Jharkhand on the State Formation Day. Here I do convey my Best Wishes to all the people of Jharkhand for their well being, prosperity & happiness ! Here I do share a photograph from December 2016, when I was invited by the then Jharkhand Khadi & Gramodyog Board Chairman & present Lok Sabha MP from Ranchi Hon’ble Sanjay Seth Ji as a Guest aongwith the then Hon’ble CM Sj. Raghubar Das Ji to inaugurate a National level Khadi & Gramodyog Exhibition at Morabadi Ground in Ranchi. There on the inaugural session we exchanged token of love from both the States Well, on the State Formation day of Jharkahnd & Birth Anniversary of the Legend Tribal Leader & Freedom Fighter Birsa Munda, Best Wishes to our Brothers & Siaters the people of Jharkhand State ! Pray Lord Jagannath to Bless the State of Jharkhand to prosper with Inclusive Development & equitable hirizontal distribution of the good governance to all the Stakeholders of the State especially the Tribal population, Communities in Minining affected & forest areas, SC communities, the socio-economically backward communities, the large Migrant Worker population from the State and last but not the least the large Odia population in Jharkhand.
I also do appeal the Union Govt., State Govt.s of Jharkhand, other neighbouring States & Odisha to take care of the Odia people permanently residing in the States of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhatisgarh & Andhra Pradesh & to pay more focussed attention to their issues by identifying, prioritising & then solving them with empathy. Vande Utkal Janani ! Vande Mataram.
Tejeswar Parida
Former President, Odisha Khadi &Village Industries Board,
Chairman, Centre for Policy, Governance and Advocacy(CPGA & Yuva Odisha).
