Ground Report

 Henceforth “Orissa” will be known as “Odisha”. The long proposed move to rechristen the state has finally been approved by the Rajya Shabha. Members from various parties have voted in favor of it and hailed it as a “historical” step towards giving it a unique identity. The language of the state, so far known as “Oriya” will be hereafter called and written as “Odia”. The bill needed support of two third of members present in the Upper house. Out of 245 members, 169 voted in favor of it. 

The reason given to such change is the ongoing process to decolonize Indian places as the British had changed the names of almost all important places of this sub-continent. With this change in name, the state would get back its original pride.

 The state has gone though struggles to save its identity as a separate state and its language. For long time, it remained a part of Bengal and almost on the brink of losing its status as a separate state and “Odia” as a language came to be extinct.

The bill would now be sent to President Pratibha Patil for her approval. The entire process is likely to be passed before 1^st April, when state celebrates its birth anniversary.