Bhubaneswar: In a historic move, the Odisha Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has given the “Bande Utkala Janani” song as the State anthem status.
Recently, several programmes have been organised across the globe and Odias sang the song of Bande Utkala Janani following Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s appeal to them to stand up and sing the state song on May 30 as a gesture of solidarity with the frontline workers engaged in the fight against Covid-19.
Bande Utkala Janani composed by Kantakabi Laksmikanta Mahapatra and sung in the Balasore session of the Utkala Sammilani in 1912 has been summoning patriotic feelings among people and deeply moving them to affirm their affinity with the larger and expansive stream of Odia nationalism which is an essential component of Indian nationalism. It has inspired and continue to inspire generations of Odias by its poetic excellence and diction which through its rhythm and harmony brings out the beauty and aesthetics of landscape of Odisha and underline its glorious tradition and heritage rooted, among others, in science and Yoga.
With the accordance of state anthem status, the Bande Utkala Janani will be recited at all government programmes, Assembly Sessions and educational institutes in the state. It will also be incorporated in the school and collage curriculums, according to an official release.