KOSAL- UPRISING IN WESTERN ORISSA

Kosal : A new state in demand for western Orissa 06/10/2011

Orissa is an amalgam of three Old-time Kingdoms, Utkala, Kalinga and Kosala. Utkala and Kalinga came together first; Kosala was the latest comer to the union constituting the modern state of Orissa. On the 1st. April 1936 official imprimatur was given to the separate modern state of Orissa. After India became independent, twenty-six feudatory states were merged with the state of Orissa.

The State Govt. celebrates Utkala Day (Not Orissa Day!) each year on the 1st of April. At other times Orissa gets addressed as Kalinga. There are also occasions and instances when Orissa gets named as Utkala or Kalinga, there seems however a strange inhibition is naming as Kosala, the third sister Constituent of the historical State of Orissa. This parochial mindset is betrayed in many other usages and social mores. A culture university was established at Bhubaneswar, and named Utkal Culture University, the publicity department of the State Government names its mouthpiece 'Utkala Prasanga' and the stadium built by the Orissa Government is named Kalinga Stadium. There are many such instances, Orissa is lovingly addressed as Utkala and Kalinga but a mare mention of the name 'Kosala' sends the jitters down the spine of many Odissa leaders, so much so that the moment an honourable member of the Assembly from Western Orissa commenced his speech with a mention of the name Kosala, a socalled influential minister had no qualms in labelling him, a traitor and a secessionist. This indicates the authorities' mindset, that the entity called Kosala is extinct but the entities called Utkala and Kalinga are living species. Can there be a more outrageous instance of sub-regional Chauvinism ?

After a long and arduous struggle the separate province of Orissa was created but the rich treasure house of highly expressive Sambalpuri words yet remains untapped and is not found acceptable to mainstream Odiya language. The dominance of the language spoken in the coastal belt has virtually segregated the language spoken by a large chunk of Odissa in a sort of linguistic apartheid.
Putting across political barriers leaders of all political hues are seen lending their wholehearted support to the formation of a new Koshal state comprising of backward districts of western Orissa. Since independence, the tribal – dominated hinterland of Orissa has remained neglected, inspite of its vast mineral and forest resources.

“Sambalpuri is an equivalent of 'Pride'; is there any doubt ? But we know,Koshal encompass all the four major erstwhile districts,viz. Balangir, Kalahandi, Sambalpur, Sundargarh & its bifurcated districts now & of course, Aathmalik too. The geographical, historical, cultural,literary & social identity & unity among these areas is well known. Nationality of Koshal is taking shape, regimentation is underway & for that language is not the only uniting factor, there are other socio-economic factors too & mainly backwardness of these areas help unit this region. To designate the language of Koshalanchal as 'Koshali' is not ancient but started in the Eighties of twentieth century. To re-christine Sambalpuri as 'Koshali' is gaining acceptance among the districts of Koshal. It obviously encompass all the districts of Koshalanchal. But when it tend to obliterate the pride & heritage associated with the nomenclature 'Sambalpuri', users of this ancient language can’t bear with it. That precisely objected to by the protagonists of Sambalpuri language & culture. It’s not a geographical connotation. When some persons mow down 'Sambalpuri' as the language of a district & that to, the present truncated district of Sambalpur, excluding Bargarh,Jharsuguda & Debgarh, & pose it as an anti-thesis to the Unification of Koshalanchal,the age old inheritors obviously take strong objection to it. People of all the areas of Koshalanchal were identified as 'Sambalpuria' & that was a matter of pride for them. Now when we go all out to fashion Koshalites as 'Koshali' very few dissent, but nobody can wrest the right from the people who take pride to preserve their heritage as 'Sambalpuri'. Our cherised motherland is 'Koshal'; we all crave for it.But, there are other constituents factors to exercise our unification drive upon, like economic backwardness, sole exploitation at the hands of a hand few Coastalites & cultural unity among our districts. We have secured a phenomenal ground by working on it. Let all Koshalites strive to achieve a free 'Koshal' without hurting the important component-'Sambalpuri'.” as opined by Sapan Mishra,Sambalpur.

“At the administrative point of view Koshal is must. Even I have seen many non-sambalpuri people of western odisha and even outside odisha strongly support Koshal Movement.
So I call upon all the residents of Koshal irrespective of caste creed religion language gender age JOIN HANDS TO FREE MOTHER KOSHAL” as stated by Birendra Panigrahi, Publisher of a daily based newpaper “ Janamukha”.

One of the social activist at sambalpur Mr Biswarajan babu Stated that there must be a general public opinion and and all the local MPS and MLAS must come to a particular consensus / decision , squabbling over issues don not make any sense.
The office of Western Orissa Development Council is situated at Bhubaneswar. The functionaries are wholly under the control of the Government. They have no financial powers. As per Newspaper reports the Council received grant-in-aid of Rs.30 corers during financial year 2001-2002. One can imagine the extent to which regional imbalance can be removed by the paltry amount!

The pent-up feeling of deprivation, of indifference and of neglect by powers that be has already given rise to demands for a separate state by the people of Western Orissa. Many voices, both individual and organizational have been heard spelling out the demand. Some of them have sufficient anger to provoke them to take to the streets. Some of the municipalities (Sambalpur included), grampanchayats and such other institutions have already passed resolutions in favour of creation of a separate state.

Assam could be reorganized into six states and Punjab into three states. If the context of political oppression and economic exploitation states of Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh could be created, it stands to reason that the state of Kosala comprising the western region of Odissa could also be created.
People's representatives from Western Odissa are urged to participate in the movement. Every municipality, grampanchayat and other public bodies are requested to adopt proposals for creation of a separate state. It is also requested that journalists associated with different newspapers give support and publicity to the demand. Citizens of Western Orissa from Athmallik to Kalahandi are urged to make the movement widespread and resurgent.

Mr. P.R. Dubey pioneered the Koshal movement. During early part of 70th. he came of with a map and flag for Maha Koshal . At that time he was going alone. Even the serious politicians & intellectuals were laughing at him. But he alone succeeded to nourishing the thought for creation of a separate state -Kosal . During late part of 80th. Kosal movement got a flip. The product of the student movement of 80th. backed the movement and participated actively. It got momentum and spread to the whole western Orissa. Bal Gopal Mishra emerged as a leader of the movement. Many work was done during the period. Fight for the Sambalpuri Saree’s identity , development of Sambalpuri/ Koshali language , songs/ music/ drama, observing Nuakhai in a particular day, declaration of Nuakhai as holiday are significant movements. Many organizations of Sambalpur, Bargarh, Bolangir, Sundargarh, Kalahandi contributed a lot . Other intellectuals got themselves involve volounterly. It was in the process of becoming a mass movement.

During 90th. fractions developed. It became weak. A Political Party emerged. But its leaders distanced themselves from the real problems of the people of this area. Koshal movement turned in to a paper tiger. Even in Sambalpur town Sambalpuri identity loosed it position. Sambalpur and Western Orissa turned into a Colony of Costal Orissa.

Moreover can Telengana or Koshal or a high court bench redress the problems the common masses in the present scenario. People need Quality /Free education, health care, good governance, vibrant security and effective administration & judiciary. People want a fearless society with equal opportunities and prospect for all. We need a responsible state. We need a world where we can sing and dance together without any monotony. Please don’t confine the needs of the people to Sadak, Bijli & Pani and Telengana Or Koshal.

A separate state has to be secured, not by any one's charity but by resurgent upsurge from the grass root level. Even after more than 60 years since Independence, this region is groaning under backwardness and poverty.
Many parliamentarians are eagerly waiting for the report of the Pranab Mukherjee Committee on the sensitive issue of creation of smaller states. It would be better for the congress party to take stock of the situation prevailing all over the country and go for legitimizing popular movements in favor of smaller states that is going on in areas of Koshal, Telangana and Vidarbha.

Siddhartha shnakar mishra,
Bureau Chief,
These Days
Sambalpur, Orissa.