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Opinion

Suryanagri : A 25 crore pipe dream (Opinion)

May 21, 2020 By Anil Dhir Leave a Comment

Bhubaneswar, May 21 :The announcement of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for the complete solarisation of Sun Temple and Konark town has made news.

The concerned Minister has said the Centre has launched the project to take forward the Prime Minister’s vision to develop the Sun temple town as a ‘Suryanagri’.

The 25 Crore project envisages setting up of a 10 MW grid connected solar project with battery storage and solar off-grid applications like solar trees, solar drinking water kiosks. It will be implemented by OREDA, the Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA).

While the print and social media has gone gaga on the announcement, no thought has been given to the practicality and feasibility of undertaking the project.

While solar energy is considered and inexhaustible renewable resource, the way we currently harness that energy has many disadvantages from being unaffordable to inefficient.

In some of the solar plants in the USA, it was revealed that the value of the electricity produced was less than the cost of cleaning and maintaining the solar panels.

According to the Qualitative Reasoning Group with Northwestern University, most solar panels convert only 14% of their available energy into power.

The most efficient solar panels convert only 22% of their available energy into power. According to the second law of thermodynamics, solar cells never reach 100% efficiency, the highest theoretical maximum efficiency is 85%, and that’s with panels which have motors to follow the sun. For a system that does not track the sun, the highest theoretical maximum efficiency is only 55%.

Have the bright sparks at the Ministry taken the geographical location of Konark while making this grandiose but impractical plan? They should know that the place is buffeted by at least half a dozen severe storms every monsoon, besides many more throughout the year.

The windblown sand, which exists all year long, will cause scratching of the panels and necessitate periodic replacement. For half the year, salty mist spreads over the entire area in the early and late hours.

And where will they get the land from? There is no land available in and around Konark, both the State Government and the ASI is at loggerheads for the Heritage buffer zone demarcations.

There are reserved forests and a sanctuary in the vicinity. No new hotel or resort project has been sanctioned in the last two decades, and this world heritage site still lacks basic infrastructural facilities for tourists and visitors.

It will be more feasible to develop a solar plant in the hinterland and take the required energy from the grid. Setting up Solar trees in this weather prone area is not feasible.

Both the Centre and the State Governments should rather focus on the proper conservation and preservation of the crumbling temple.

The priorities should be removal of the encroachments in the heritage zone, proper conservation efforts, prevention of water logging, tall trees afforestation, visitor amenities, proper museum and interpretation centre etc. The plan for the development of the buffer zone is still incomplete.

The government had earlier too set up many bio diesel powered generators all over the state, and even made massive Jatropha plantations. Not a single one was successful and all of them are gathering dust. More than Rs 500 crores was spent with no benefit. So much of developing a Suryanagiri !

Filed Under: English, Opinion Tagged With: Konark, Odisha, Opinion

Bhabani Charan Patnaik: One of the youngest Freedom fighters

May 16, 2020 By Sujit Kumar Pruseth Leave a Comment

Odisha has a glorious history of her indomitable spirit of fighting against injustice, foreign rule.

Odisha has the unique distinction of initiating resistance against the British empire in 1817 which is forty years before the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.

The tradition of valour in veins of Odia which contributed significantly towards India winning independence.

Bhabani Charan Patnaik was one of the freedom fighter from Odisha-the land of indomitable spirit and courage.

Bhabani Charan Patnaik was also one of the youngest freedom fighter from Odisha ; apart from the legendary Baji Rout.

Bhabani Charan Patnaik had joined the freedom struggle while he was a school going boy at the age of 10 in Nimapada, Odisha.

In 2017 I was doing research for two books on the unsung freedom fighters and the unknown aspects of freedom struggle in Odisha which started almost forty years before the Sepoy Mutiny.

Time was very short and the task was Herculean in nature.

However, my reverence for my native place and inquisitiveness became the motivating forces to complete the task.

I searched many historical documents in libraries, archives; went through the files in district record rooms in various districts in Odisha etc in order to prepare one book in Odia and another in English; which would be enriched with academic contents, historical photos and aesthetic look.

I came across the name of freedom fighter Bhabani Charan Patnaik from Nimapada who enjoys legendry status.

I reached out to Bhabani Charan Patnaik over phone with much trepidation.

To my utter surprise, I received the sweetest reply to my telephonic call.

Bhabani Charan Patnaik was above 95, yet his voice was full of the indomitable spirit and courage.

He was full of praise when he was apprised about the two forthcoming books.

His voice was full of humbleness when I unfolded the idea of writing about his participation freedom struggle since school days.

Subsequently, Bhabani Charan Patnaik left school education midway by getting influenced by the clarion call by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942.

Bhabani Charan Patnaik’s dedication, hardwork and dedication made him a close associate of freedom fighters and stalwarts like Dr Harekrushna Mahatab, Biju Patniak, Nabakrushna Choudhry, Neelamani Routray etc.

When I asked him over phone about the most memorable incident during th efredom struggle days; Bhabani Charan Patnaik narrated eloquently the firing by British police on the peaceful protestors led by Bhabani Charan Patnaik and his colleagues like Lokanatha Senapati and Padma Charan Samantsinhar in Nimapada during freedom struggle.

His voice got choked with emotion when he remembered the name of Utsav Mallik who was martyred in the firing by the British police.

Bhabani Charan Patnaik was put behind bars in Puri jail as he led the protest against the British.

Though Bhabani Charan Patnaik was jailed, that could not dampen his dedication to Gandhian principles and values.

When Bhabani Charan Patnaik evoked the name of Mahatma Gandhi, his voice tone became more baritone.

Without a pause, Bhabani Charan Patnaik went on describing with minute details about the numerous visits of Mahatma Gnadhi to Odisha starting with 1921.

According to Bhabani Charan Patnaik, it was the famine in Udaar in Puri which was highlighted by Utkalmani Gopabandhu Dash in his latters to Mahatma Gandhi brought Gandhi to Odisha.

Bhabani Charan Patnaik made a candid confession that it was Gandhiji’s simplicity, concerns for ordinary human-beings, and unflinching dedication to Non-violence bowled him completely.

He was completely hypnotized by Mahatma’s personality.

Upon being asked about the relevance of Gandhi in contemporary world, Bhabani Charan Patnaik paused for a moment and took a deep breath.

A sense of disappointment loomed large over his voice.

Bhabani Charan Patnaik said by neglecting Gandhian philosophy India’s progress is not inclusive and broad-based.

Gandhian philosophy has become increasingly relevant in recent times and there must be attempts to connect the younger generation with the Gandhian ideology.

The long conversation led to a personal bonding, although over phone.

Bhabani Charan Patnaik’s eagerness to see my two books , which I could not.
However, Bhabani Charan Patnaik kept me motivated with his insightful reflections on many contemporary problems ailing the country.

My two books, namely ‘Valour in Veins’ in English and ‘ Dhamanee re Shourya’ in Odia have the unique distinction of featuring few living freedom fighters like Dayanidhi Nayak and Jeetendra Pradhan from Panimora village in Bargarh district and Bhanai Charan Patnaik from Nimapada.

I feel blessed as I had the privilege of interacting with these ‘foot-soldiers of Mahtma Gandhi’ and honour of featuring them in my two books.

The author is a policy analyst and can be reached by prusethsujit@gmail.com and +91-9868766705

Filed Under: English, Opinion, Special Tagged With: Odisha, Opinion, Special

Gandhian thoughts at the time of pandemic (Opinion)

May 11, 2020 By Bishnupada Sethi Leave a Comment

Mahatma Gandhi is very dear to every Indian, a true visionary who has influenced generations around the world.

One would be curious to know about his relevancein the current pandemic situation.

The world has seen very few men of his stature and wisdom for which he is loved and worshipped as Mahatma.

He knew the people, their strength and weakness, having travelled every length and breadth of the country.

His solutions came out of strict experimentations and personal applications.

He had lived the life of a sage during very turbulent times of history which saw epidemics, starvation, racism, two world wars, several rebellions and upheavals etc.

He studied every situation deeply and looked for sustainable solutions to the problems of humanity.

Early in his life at Johannesburg, Gandhiji with the help of three followers treated the patients of pneumonic plague exposing him to life risk and experimented withearth treatment.

He kept vigil and nursed the patientsthrough the terrible nights when the designated nurse was frightened to provide any treatment.

He was a man having firm belief in God and such unshakable faith gave him great mental strength to nurse the critically ill patients.

A true Vaishnava, he would feel the pain of others and help those in misery, but never let self conceit enter his mind.

He would often nurse the ailing, dispensed medicine, dressed wounds by visiting a clinic in South Africa.

To take care of the wounded people, he had raised Ambulance Corps during Boer War and later, during Zulu rebellion.

Volunteerism and self help was very close to his heart.

Gandhiji believed in total health. He advised to have little dependence on medicine.

He advocated hydrotherapy, earth treatment, fasting, dietetics, massages, baths andreliance on simple diet without the use of spices and condiments though he was not averse to modern medicine.

Exposure to clean and fresh air are necessary for the treatment of body and soul.

From his days in South Africa, he learnt the benefit from the practice of personal hygiene and preventive treatment.

He would often advise to control both palate and passion.

To rid the villagers from skin diseases and many ailments he would raisearmy of volunteers to take up sanitation work in the villages for removing dirt and filth from the roads, wells, ponds and public places. His selfless volunteers provided medical reliefs to the people.

Any disease according to him is due to negligence or indulgence.

Practice of medicine should not be for profit making; rather it should aim at reducing the pain and sufferings of masses.

Gandhiji preached Gram Swaraj and according to him India’s soul lives in the villages.

He perfected the idea of making village as the basic unit of social organization;self sufficient as far as the vital requirements are concerned.

The village should be able to manage the basic goods including the medical requirements.

At the time of current global shut down, we come across several situations where the countries are unable to meet their food and medical requirements due to the intricate globalization and interdependence where outsourcing is the way of business.

Gandhiji’s dream of self reliance was closely related to the problem of migrant labour that we witness currently.

He believed about the economic salvation of the country through Gram Swaraj.

Economic reconstruction of the country could take place through rural industrialization, rural development, small scale village and cottage industries.

A self sustaining village economy having livelihood opportunity with adequate focus on literacy, health and moral values would enable the independent community to deal with the issues itself and is capable of protecting against any surge in the surroundings.

The rural areas could produce much needed food, clothing, agricultural products, and handicrafts through small scale enterprises and provide employment to its people.

Covid -19 has created waves of panic and fear affecting almost all countries.

The world population is suffering from the bouts of anxiety, depression, health disorder, scare and fear of sickness.

The people are losing mental and emotional stability of different degrees.

Financial losses and job loss have compounded the problems in unsparing manner.

Each country is evolving and coping with challenges to secure the life and wellbeing of its population, some of those being unique to their culture, tradition and democracy.

The epidemic has exposed various problems of the modern and highly intricate globalised economy.

In a sense the disease is a great contribution of the way the current business in the world is carried on.

The people have moved from place of origin of disease and spread it everywhere through air travel.

However, now the crisis has deepened affecting rich and poor alike.

The effects are much worse than any war this world has seen and not sure how long the same would last.

Much against the desire of Gandhiji, developments have taken place leading to concentration of industry and commerce in few urban areas of the country where we see the spikes of disease spreading in hugely dense population.

In 1901, only 2.58 crore people were living in urban areas of the country which increased to 37.71 croresas per 2011 census.

There were nine metropolitan cities in the country having 18.9 percent of the urban population in the year 1971.

The number of metropolitan cities increased to 50 in the year 2011 having 42.3 percent of the urban population.

The increase in urban population was significantly contributed by rural- urban migration over the years with migration contributing 22.4% to the urban growth for the period from1991 to 2001.

Our country is finding it difficult to cope up with the challenges when a large number of people are returning back to their villages in view of the Covid- 19 situation.

The melt down in our economy has affected everyone and the government is trying its best to reach out to the weavers, toymakers, farmers, labourers, pastoralists, daily wage earners, artists, fishermen, barbers, Dalits, Tribalsand the marginalized sections of society, who need the succor on priority.

At the current juncture, as the disease spreads wider and deeper, it would be prudent to look at what Gandhiji would have done to deal with the crisis by seeking selfless community support, raising forces of young men and men to undertake various responsibilities with regard to awareness and confidence building, teaching and ensuring personal as well as community health & hygiene, self discipline, awareness, volunteerismetc.

With no disease cure in sight for now, the ardent followers of Gandhiji would even like to suggest non- allopathic treatments for the patients.

The current model of urbanization and globalization which needs huge number of migrant labours exposes several weaknesses.

In this context, the idea of Gram Swaraj look everrelevant, a lesson which may be kept in view if we are looking for sustainable solutions to the emerging problems of human race.

* The author works as the Principal Secretary, Energy Department, Government of Odisha.

He was in charge of Disaster Management Department for Odisha state previously and had received global appreciation for management of Very Severe Cyclonic Storm “FANI’ during May, 2019.

The views expressed are in his personal capacity.

Filed Under: English, Opinion, Special Tagged With: Odisha, Opinion, Special

ANALYSIS: Migration trends in Odisha as per Census

April 21, 2020 By Bishnupada Sethi 1 Comment

Migration is an important factor for deciding the population of a particular place in addition to births and deaths.

When a person is enumerated during the Census exercise at a place different to their place of birth or place of last residence, she/ he is considered a migrant.

This could be attributed to marriage, which is the most common reason for migration among women or for work, what is generally the case among males.

Several times, many also return to their place of birth after staying out for a particular time period.

To capture such movements of population, Census collects information on migration by last residence which helps to understand the current migration scenario better.

In the Census 2011, total 12,71,221 persons from the state were enumerated to be living outside the state of Odisha.

Similarly, there were 8, 55,696 persons migrated from other states and were enumerated in Odisha. (Table 1 & 2)

Table.1:

State – JAMMU & KASHMIR (01. 2,233

State – HIMACHAL PRADESH (02)  3,295

State – PUNJAB (03)   11,717

State – CHANDIGARH (04) 1,600

State – UTTARAKHAND (05)       4,224

State – HARYANA (06) 16,280

State – NCT OF DELHI (07) 41,162

State – RAJASTHAN (08)12,991

State – UTTAR PRADESH (09) 35,269

State – BIHAR (10)6,014

State – SIKKIM (11) 602

State – ARUNACHAL PRADESH (12)1,613

State – NAGALAND (13)1,236

State – MANIPUR (14) 87

State – MIZORAM (15)  65

State – TRIPURA (16) 303

State – MEGHALAYA (17) 525

State – ASSAM (18)5,153

State – WEST BENGAL (19)1,42,179

State- JHARKHAND (20)1,26,320

State – CHHATTISGARH (22) 2,42,404

State – MADHYA PRADESH (23) 24,038

State – GUJARAT (24)1,76,072

State – DAMAN & DIU (25)4,590

State – DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI (26) 4,339

State – MAHARASHTRA (27)1,14,411

State – ANDHRA PRADESH (28)1,85,872

State – KARNATAKA (29)64,032

State – GOA (30)4,389

State – LAKSHADWEEP (31) 23

State – KERALA (32) 12,223

State – TAMIL NADU (33)22,863

State – PUDUCHERRY (34) 1,753

State – ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS (35)1,244
12,71,121

Table 2:

State – JAMMU & KASHMIR (01) 8,277

State – HIMACHAL PRADESH (02)1,642

State – PUNJAB (03) 6,832

State – CHANDIGARH (04) 291

State – UTTARAKHAND (05) 931

State – HARYANA (06)5,206

State – NCT OF DELHI (07) 8,006

State – RAJASTHAN (08)12,203

State – UTTAR PRADESH (09) 33,063

State – BIHAR (10)1,19,231

State – SIKKIM (11) 143

State – ARUNACHAL PRADESH (12) 581

State – NAGALAND (13) 486

State – MANIPUR (14)334

State – MIZORAM (15)52

State – TRIPURA (16)465

State – MEGHALAYA (17)275

State – ASSAM (18)4,732

State – WEST BENGAL (19)1,64,699

State- Jharkhand1,67,377

State – CHHATTISGARH (22)1,29,371

State – MADHYA PRADESH (23)12,725

State – GUJARAT (24)24,420

State – DAMAN & DIU (25)11

State – DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI (26) 75

State – MAHARASHTRA (27) 14,902

State – ANDHRA PRADESH (28) 1,22,491

State – KARNATAKA (29)4,829

State – GOA (30) 400

State – LAKSHADWEEP (31) 232

State – KERALA (32) 4,763

State – TAMIL NADU (33)6,256

State – PUDUCHERRY (34)149

State – ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS (35) 246

8,55,696

As per the 2011 Census, the total reported migrants’ population in Odisha (enumerated in a particular place in Odisha but residence elsewhere) were 1,57,21,493 out of which 73,609 are from outside India.

A total population of 1,44,88,013  were found to have migrated to other places within their own state.

Migrations which occurred  to other places in the their own district stood at 1,11,48,402.

A total of 33,39,611 people migrated to other districts from their own district in Odisha.  The total in-migration from other stated were reported to be at 8,55,696.

Top three districts having maximum out of state populations are Sundargarh (1,57,758), Khordha (63,200) and Ganjam (57,303). Again, there are 1,67,377 people from Jharkhand, 1,64,699 from West Bengal, 129,371 from Chhatishgarh, 1,22,491 from Andhra Pradesh and 1,19,231 from Bihar residing in Odisha.

Persons from Odisha reside in almost 640 districts across India. The names of the districts and number of persons where more than 4,000 persons from Odisha are residing, are given in the following table No 3.

Table 3:

District Name

Number of persons from Odisha

District – Surat (25) 151,622

District – Saraikela-Kharsawan (24 ) 10,669

District – Raipur (11) 69,075

District – Hugli (12) 10,616

District – Srikakulam (11) 51,912

District – Medak (04) 9,520

District – Bangalore (18) 51,484

District – Mumbai (23)  8,294

District – PurbiSinghbhum (12) 47,866

District – DakshinBastarDantewada (17) 8,060

District – Visakhapatnam (13) 40,295

District – East Godavari (14) 6,845

District – Raigarh (04) 38,297

District – Ranchi (19) 6,624

District – Mumbai Suburban (22) 37,025

District – Jashpur (03) 6,532

District – Mahasamund (12) 34,654

District – Nagpur (09) 6,514

District – Bastar (15) 32,149

District – Hyderabad (05) 6,190

District – PashchimiSinghbhum (23) 31,896

District – Gurgaon (18) 5,969

District – Thane (21) 30,267

District – Bilaspur (07) 5,874

District – PaschimMedinipur (18) 29,159

District – South Twenty Four Parganas (17) 5,747

District – Durg (10) 25,267

District – Korba (05) 5,630

District – Kolkata (16) 24,639

District – Kachchh (01)   5,229

District – Vizianagaram (12)  22,331

District – Chennai (02)   4,853

District – North Twenty Four Parganas (11)
20,748

District – Bokaro (10) 4,839

District – Rangareddy (06) 19,076

District – Raigarh (24) 4,624

District – PurbaMedinipur (19) 18,948

District – Daman (02) 4,580

District – Pune (25) 17,528

District – Thiruvallur (01)    4,501

District – Simdega (22 )  14,440

District – Gautam Buddha Nagar (10)  4,443

District – South (09)   13,595

District – Janjgir – Champa (06)   4,382

District – Barddhaman (09) 11,253

District – East (04) 4,359

District – Haora (15) 11,250

District – Dadra & Nagar Haveli (01) 4,339

District – South West (08) 10,778

District – West (07) 4,288

District – Koriya (01)  4,201

District – North West (01) 4,165

District – Guntur (17)   4,016

It can be seen from the table that there are more than 1.5 lakh population  from Odisha is residing in Surat.

Then comes Raipur and Srikakulam. It can be seen from the table that more than 75, 000 persons from Odisha are living in Mumbai, Mumbai Sub-urban and Thane. Again there are 17, 525 are residing at Pune.

* The writer is an Indian Administrative Service officer. He serves as  principal secretary at Odisha’s Energy department.

Filed Under: English Tagged With: Odisha, Opinion, Special

What if a rare April-May cyclone strikes now?(Opinion)

April 19, 2020 By Ranjan Panda Leave a Comment

I wish and pray, a Fani does not strike Odisha coasts now.

But, if it does, we need a special strategy to deal with it, something that’s different than what we have already championed.

Odisha has been a torchbearer in disaster response.

After the Super Cyclone of 1999 struck the state in a never-seen before devastating scale, the state has come a long way in developing its skills, coordination abilities and policy measures to deal with rest of such cyclones in quite effective manner.

Challenges remain, and there is always scope for improvement, but the fact remains that we have moved far ahead of even some of the world’s developed nations in rescue operations and other aspects of disaster response.

This experience has certainly come handy while dealing with COVID19.

Odisha has so far managed the response operations during this pandemic very well.

In disaster management, however, staying prepared for the future is very important and a dynamic response system to deal with any unprecedented additional disasters would be the need of hour.

While we are dealing with the world’s greatest disaster of our times, a cyclone like Fani could add to our worries and preparations can be too taxing considering the conflicting nature of preparations we need to do for both of these.

While technology has improved and we can get some time to prepare for a cyclone like Fani, if that strikes us in the coming weeks, it may still throw unprecedented challenges.

Last year, when Fani struck us, the movement of the devastating wind after the landfall made damages to cities like Bhubaneswar for which the city was clearly not prepared.

If in case, despite all our technological advances and accurate predictions, such a cyclone hits our cities now, while people are under lockdown, things might get too difficult as supplies and services, disrupted by such a storm, may take longer than usual to come back to normalcy.

Repairs to infrastructure – non essential items as per COVID management guidelines – would be another big headache.

Our police, municipality staff and government staff are currently busy in enforcing the lockdown.

The healthcare professionals are at the severest level of stress.

All these are vital people in our response to disasters like cyclones as well.

The civil society, NGOs, aid workers, etc. have also been facing challenges in getting their personnel together and even to get permission to operate during COVID.

Migrant labourers are temporarily housed in several shelters and need special attention, and services including food, water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.

In rural areas, a response to a cyclone at the moment would be much more challenging.

We need to evacuate millions of people from the coastal plains, transport them in crowded vehicles to be sheltered in cyclone shelters and other local infrastructure.

That’s a stupendous task, more so at a time when we have the task to maintain social (read ‘physical’) distancing.

Our cyclone shelters are not sufficient to host lakhs of people, who might have to be evacuated if in case a cyclone hits during this lockdown period, while maintaining the mandatory physical distancing.

Schools, colleges, panchayat buildings, etc. have been converted to quarantine centres for migrant labourers and others who have returned from other states and that’s the reason we might face shortage of housing facilities for the evacuated people in a proper and safe manner.

Then there are other challenges of food, water, sanitation etc. that come with a cyclone and can get aggravated because of the current pandemic situation.

While I have reasons to bet on the proactive capacity of our disaster management authority, I also strongly recommend the formulation of a strategy to augment our capacity to handle the additional burden of a devastating cyclone, if at all it hits the Odisha coasts in the coming weeks.

We can all contribute our bit with our expertise and services to prepare such a strategy and an action plan.

* Known water and climate change expert of India, popularly known as Water Man of Odisha.

Filed Under: English, Opinion Tagged With: Odisha, Opinion

Opinion: Remembering Veer Surendra Sai who fought British as a lone lion till 1862

January 23, 2020 By Sujit Kumar Pruseth 2 Comments

Surendra ……Surendra…the return of the valiant fighter :

Mid-August 1857…The atmosphere in Sambalpur town on the bank of mighty Mahanadi in Odisha was boisterous yet tense.

The people had a great time few days back in celebrating Nuakhai – the pre-harvest festival.

In addition, the Dasaharaa was round the corner.

But, people in Sambalpur were anxious, worried yet something unknown had made them happy with trepidation.

The sky was getting reddish with rays of the set-down Sun.
All of a sudden there was a thundering yell from nowhere.. Surendra aayelaa na re.. ( Surendra has arrived).

Those who listened to the voice almost got stand-still. They looked at each other and here and there with a sense of disbelieve and awe.

Then all of them witnessed the most dramatic moment of their lives. A tall, tan-skinned, well-built, bare-chest man with an armlet with religious significance in his right fore-arm descended from a grey coloured horse.

After getting down, he offered a mudiaa [traditional way of bowing to anyone as a mark of deep respect and gratitude]by touching his forehead to the soil with his two hands enjoined above his head.

People were watching with gasping breath yet not able to see his face clearly as lustrous hair covered his face.

But a gasp of fresh air from Mahanadi flowing nearby lifted the hair from his face and reddish light of Sun made visible his tanned face with a long moustache.

There was huge uproar with people screamed Surendra …Surendra …..In response to the rousing sound from the assembled people, the tall man raised his Khandaa ( sword) and said with a baritone voice…Jai Maa Samlei… Juhaar…Mui Surendra Sai..

It was roar of the lion.

Once again people screamed Jai Maa Samlei…Surendra Sai ki jai. It was Veer Surendra Sai, the valiant fighter who raised his voice and put up a valiant armed fight against the British and claimed his right over the throne of Sambalpur.

He was captured and put behind bar in Hazaribagh jail in 1840.

In a miraculous turn of event in 1857 Surendra and his followers were set free by the mutineers of 1857 and Sai retuned to Sambalpur with his brother Uddanta Sai after being incarcerated for 17 years in Hazaribagh jail.

Once he reached Sabalpur , his clarion call for Ulgullan [struggle for self-rule] made him a savior of the common people.

Valour in veins

Born in 1809 in Khindaa village near Sambalpur, Surendra Sai revolted against the British at the tender age of eighteen in 1827.

He led the armed struggle against the British as they anointed Mohan Kumari as the ruler of Sambalpur.

He fought for the dignity of his native land, her people and against the tyrannical British rule.

His heroic struggle was certainly unique and praiseworthy as it was one of the earliest armed struggles towards the freedom of the country.

Almost 3 decades before the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, he comes across as the torch bearer of the freedom struggle in the valley of Mahanadi in Eastern India as he organized the armed uprising against the Britsih in 1827.

He had received the wholehearted support of many Zamindaar [Landlords and rulers], Gountiaas [village headman] and may tribal community like the Binjhaal and others.

The most notable contributions have been by the Zamindaar of Ghess village.

The Debar settlement which empowered the British to collect tax five times more helped him in obtaining the support from the oppressed common residents of Sambalpur.

The armed attack with guerilla warfare technique had made him almost invincible for the British.

Sai had literally cut off the connectivity to Raipur, Ranchi and Katak by reigning in the control of Singhoda pass, Jharghati and Birghati etc.

The way he ambushed the British convoy at Jujumora near Sambalpur and killed Dr Moore who was on his way to Sambalpur to treat the wounded British soldiers highlights his strategic precision in armed attack.

Subsequently, the killing of Capt Wood who attacked Veer Suendra Sai in Kudopali near Sambalpur also shows his acumen in warfare with primitive arms and ammunitions in comparison to the British.

Fought British empire as a lone lion till 1862:

The unique significance of Surendra Sai’s valiant fight was his indomitable courage to carry out the armed struggle till 1862 where as the struggle started with the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 got extinguished within a short span.

It is pertinent to quote a letter written on 23 January 1865 by the Secretary to Chief Commissioner to Secretary, Foreign Departments, Government of India which underlines the significance of Veer Surendra Sai’s indomitable struggle.

The letter says, ‘ the Sambalpur district was perhaps the last district in India in which the embers of the disturbances of 1857 were finally stamped out.

Veer Surendra Sai not only led a relentless armed struggle against the British but sacrificed almost four decades of his life in jail which paved the way for the freedom of the country and restoration of her glory.

The indomitable courage, relentless struggle and dedication to safeguard the honour of motherland and dignity of her residents have been enduring legacy of Veer Surendra Sai.

The author is a public policy expert and can be reached at prusethsujit@gmail.com

Filed Under: English, Opinion, Special Tagged With: Odisha, Opinion, Special

ପୁରୀ ମଠଭଙ୍ଗା ବେଳେ ଶଙ୍କରାଚାର୍ଯ୍ୟଙ୍କ ପରାମର୍ଶ ନେବାକୁ ସୁପ୍ରିମକୋର୍ଟଙ୍କ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ

October 3, 2019 By LocalWire Leave a Comment

ଭୁବନେଶ୍ବର, ଅକ୍ଟୋବର ୩ (ଲୋକାଲ ୱାୟାର): ଶ୍ରୀମନ୍ଦିର ସୁରକ୍ଷା ପାଇଁ ଉଚ୍ଛେଦ ଅଭିଯାନ ସମୟରେ ଐତିହାସିକ ମଠ ମନ୍ଦିର ଭଙ୍ଗାରୁଜା ବେଳେ ପୁରୀ ଶଙ୍କରାଚାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ନିଶ୍ଚଳାନନ୍ଦ ସରସ୍ବତୀ ଓ ବଡ଼ଦେଉଳର ବରିଷ୍ଠ ସେବାୟତମାନଙ୍କ ପରାମର୍ଶ ନେବାକୁ ଗୁରୁବାର ସୁପ୍ରିମ କୋର୍ଟ ରାଜ୍ୟ ସରକାରଙ୍କୁ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ ଦେଇଛନ୍ତି।

ସେହିପରି ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ଯାଏ ଯେଉଁ ଉଚ୍ଛେଦ କରାଯାଇଛି, ତାର ଷ୍ଟାଟସ୍ ରିପୋର୍ଟ ଦାଖଲ କରିବାକୁ କୋର୍ଟ କହିଛନ୍ତି।

ଆସନ୍ତା ୨୨ ତାରିଖ ମାମଲାର ପରବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ଶୁଣାଣି ହେବ।

ଶ୍ରୀମନ୍ଦିର ମେଘନାଦ ପାଚେରିରୁ ୭୫ ମିଟର ପରିସୀମା ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଥିବା ମଠ, ବାସଗୃହ ଓ ବ୍ୟାବସାୟିକ ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠା ଉଚ୍ଛେଦ ବନ୍ଦ କରିବାକୁ ହୋଇଥିବା ଆବେଦନକୁ ଗତ ଅଗଷ୍ଟ ୨୭ରେ କୋର୍ଟ ଅଗ୍ରାହ୍ୟ କରିଦେଇଥିଲେ।

ପରେ ସେପ୍ଟେମ୍ବର ୭ରେ ସଲିସିଟର୍ ଜେନେରାଲ୍ ତୁଷାର ମେହଟ୍ଟା ଓ ଆମିକସ୍ କ୍ୟୁରି ରଂଜିତ କୁମାର ପୁରୀ ଗସ୍ତରେ ଆସି ରାଜ୍ୟ ସରକାରଙ୍କ ନିଷ୍ପତ୍ତି ଠିକ୍ ବୋଲି କହିଥିଲେ।

ଲୋକାଲ ୱାୟାର

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ଅପରାଧ ରୋକିବା ପାଇଁ ମଦକୁ ନିଷିଦ୍ଧ କରିବା ଆବଶ୍ୟକ କହିଲେ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ

September 30, 2019 By LocalWire Leave a Comment

ଭୁବନେଶ୍ବର, ସେପ୍ଟେମ୍ବର ୩୦ (ଲୋକାଲ ୱାୟାର) ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ଅପରାଧ ରୋକିବାକୁ ହେଲେ ମଦକୁ ସଂପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ନିଷେଧ କରିବାର ଆବଶ୍ୟକତା ରହିଛି ଓ ସେଥିପାଇଁ ସେ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ସହ ଆଲୋଚନା କରିବେ ବୋଲି ପରିବହନ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ପଦ୍ମନାଭ ବେହେରା କହିଛନ୍ତି।

ମଦ୍ୟପାନ କରି ଗାଡିଚାଳନା ଯୋଗୁଁ ଦୁର୍ଘଟଣା ହେଉଥିବାରୁ ସରକାର ସେଥିରେ ଜିରୋ ଟଲରାନ୍ସ ଲାଗୁ କରିଛନ୍ତି।

ସେପ୍ଟେମ୍ବର ୧ରେ ଲାଗୁ ହୋଇଥିବା ନୂଆ ମୋଟର ଯାନ ଆଇନ ଅନୁସାରେ ୪୨୬ ଜଣ ମଦ୍ୟପ ଗିରଫ ହୋଇସାରିଥିବାବେଳେ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ବିରୋଧରେ କଡା କାର୍ଯ୍ୟାନୁଷ୍ଠାନ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରାଯାଇଥିବା ସେ ଏକ ଟିଭି ଚାନେଲକୁ କହିଛନ୍ତି।

ମଦ୍ୟପମାନଙ୍କ ଯୋଗୁଁ ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ବଳାତ୍କାର, ମହିଳାଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଦୁର୍ବ୍ୟବହାର, ହତ୍ୟାକାଣ୍ଡ ଘଟୁଥିବାବେଳେ ବହୁ ପରିବାର ଏହା ଦ୍ଵାରା ପ୍ରଭାବିତ ହେଉଛନ୍ତି।

ମଦକୁ ସଂପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ନିଷେଧ କରିବାକୁ ସେ ବିଧାନସଭାରେ ଅତୀତରେ ବିଲ ଉପସ୍ଥାପନ କରିଥିବା କହିଛନ୍ତି।

ଲୋକାଲ ୱାୟାର

Filed Under: Odia, Opinion Tagged With: Opinion, ଓଡିଶା, ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱର

ନବୀନ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକ ଖୁବ୍ ଭାଗ୍ୟବାନ- ତଥାଗତ

September 18, 2019 By LocalWire Leave a Comment

ଭୁବନେଶ୍ବର, ସେପ୍ଟେମ୍ବର ୧୮ (ଲୋକାଲ ୱାୟାର): ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ନବୀନ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକ ଖୁବ୍ ଭାଗ୍ୟବାନ। ଏପରିକି ପ୍ରକୃତି ବି ତାଙ୍କ ସପକ୍ଷରେ ଯାଉଛି ବୋଲି ଇଂରାଜୀ ସଂବାଦପତ୍ର ନେସନଲ ହେରାଲ୍ଡକୁ ଏକ ସାକ୍ଷାତକାରରେ କହିଛନ୍ତି ପୂର୍ବତନ ସାଂସଦ ତଥା ବିଜେଡି ନେତା ତଥାଗତ ସତପଥୀ।

ତଥାଗତ କହିଛନ୍ତି ଯେ, ଯେକୌଣସି ପରିସ୍ଥିତି ଆରମ୍ଭରେ ପ୍ରତିକୂଳ ଭଳି ମନେହେଲେ ବି ପରବର୍ତ୍ତୀ କାଳରେ ନବୀନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ତାହା ଅନୁକୂଳ ସାବ୍ୟସ୍ତ ହୋଇଆସୁଛି।

୧୯୯୯ର ମହାବାତ୍ୟା ପରେ ପରେ ନବୀନ ରାଜ୍ୟର ଶାସନ ଭାର ସମ୍ଭାଳିଥିଲେ। ପରବର୍ତ୍ତୀ କାଳରେ ବନ୍ୟା ଓ ବାତ୍ୟା ପ୍ରବଣ ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ସେଭଳି ବଡ଼ଧରଣର ପ୍ରାକୃତିକ ବିପର୍ଯ୍ୟୟ ବି ହୋଇନଥିବା ତଥାଗତ କହିଛନ୍ତି।

ଏହି ସଂବାଦପତ୍ରରେ ତଥାଗତ ତଥାକଥିତ ବିଜେଡି-ବିଜେପି ଲିଙ୍କ୍ ସଂପର୍କରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ନିଜ ମତ ରଖି ରାଜ୍ୟର ବିକାଶ ଲାଗି ରାଜ୍ୟ ସରକାର ଏଭଳି ନୀତି ଆପଣେଇ ଥାଇପାରନ୍ତି ବୋଲି ଅନୁମାନ କରିଛନ୍ତି।

ଚାରି ଚାରି ଥର ସାଂସଦ ହୋଇଥିବା ତଥାଗତ ଏଥର କାହିଁକି ଟିକେଟ ନେଲେ ନାହିଁ ବୋଲି ଏକ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତରରେ କହିଛନ୍ତି ଯେ, ସେ ରାଜନୀତିରୁ ଅବସର ନେଇନାହାନ୍ତି, ତେବେ ଜୀବନରେ ରାଜନୀତି ବ୍ୟତୀତ ଆହୁରି ଅନେକ କିଛି ଅଛି।

ସେହିପରି ଲୋକେ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ସାଧାରଣରୁ ସାଧାରଣ ସମସ୍ୟା ସାଂସଦ ହିଁ ସମାଧାନ କରନ୍ତୁ ବୋଲି ଆଶା ରଖନ୍ତି।

ତେବେ ଏହା ସାଂସଦଙ୍କ କାମ ନୁହେଁ, ବରଂ ସେମାନଙ୍କ କାମ ହେଉଛି ପାର୍ଲାମେଣ୍ଟରେ ତର୍କ ଓ ଆଲୋଚନା ମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ସମସ୍ୟା ଉଠାଇବା ବୋଲି ତଥାଗତ ସାକ୍ଷାତକାରରେ କହିଛନ୍ତି।

ନିଜର ଖୋଲା ମତ ପାଇଁ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ସମୟରେ ଚର୍ଚାରେ ରହିଆସିଥିବା ତଥାଗତ ୨୦୦୪ ମସିହାରୁ ୨୦୧୯ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଲଗାତାର ଭାବେ ଢେଙ୍କାନାଳରୁ ସାଂସଦ ଭାବେ ନିର୍ବାଚିତ ହୋଇଥିବା ବେଳେ ଗତ ସାଧାରଣ ନିର୍ବାଚନରେ ପ୍ରତିଦ୍ୱନ୍ଦିତା କରିନାହାନ୍ତି।

ଲୋକାଲ ୱାୟାର

Filed Under: Odia, Opinion Tagged With: Opinion, ଓଡିଶା, ଢେଙ୍କାନାଳ, ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱର

ଭୁବନେଶ୍ବର- ଦୁବାଇ- ଭୁବନେଶ୍ବର ସିଧାସଳଖ ବିମାନ ପାଇଁ ଧର୍ମେନ୍ଦ୍ରଙ୍କ ପତ୍ର

September 18, 2019 By LocalWire Leave a Comment

ଭୁବନେଶ୍ବର, ସେପ୍ଟେମ୍ବର ୧୮ (ଲୋକାଲ ୱାୟାର): ଭୁବନେଶ୍ବର- ଦୁବାଇ-ଭୁବନେଶ୍ବରକୁ ସିଧାସଳଖ ବିମାନ ଉଡ଼ାଣ ପାଇଁ କେନ୍ଦ୍ରମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଧର୍ମେନ୍ଦ୍ର ପ୍ରଧାନ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ବେସାମରିକ ବିମାନ ଚଳାଚଳ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ହରଦୀପ ସିଂହ ପୁରୀଙ୍କୁ ବୁଧବାର ପତ୍ର ମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ଜଣାଇଛନ୍ତି ।

ୟୁନାଇଟେଡ୍ ଆରବ ଏମିରେଟସ୍ (ୟୁଏଇ)ର ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଅଞ୍ଚଳରେ ୧୫ ହଜାରରୁ ଅଧିକ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ବସବାସ କରୁଛନ୍ତି ।

ସେଠାକାର ଲୋକେ ରାଜ୍ୟକୁ ଯାତାୟାତ କରିବା ସମୟରେ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ପରୋକ୍ଷ ପଥରେ ନାନା ସମସ୍ୟାର ସମ୍ମୁଖୀନ ହେଉଛନ୍ତି।

ୟୁଏଇର ଓଡିଆ ସୋସାଇଟି ଏୟାର ଇଣ୍ଡିଆର ମଧ୍ୟ ପ୍ରାଚ୍ୟ ଅଧିକାରୀଙ୍କ ସହ ସାକ୍ଷାତ୍ କରି ଦୁବାଇ-ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱର ମଧ୍ୟରେ ସିଧା ବିମାନ ଯୋଗାଯୋଗ ସୁବିଧାଜନକ ବୋଲି ଜଣାଇଛନ୍ତି ।

ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱର ଶିକ୍ଷା, ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟସେବା, ସଂସ୍କୃତି ଓ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟଟନ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ଭାବରେ ବିକଶିତ ହୋଇଥିବାବେଳେ ସିଧା ବିମାନ ସଂଯୋଗ ଦରକାର ବୋଲି ଧର୍ମେନ୍ଦ୍ର ତାଙ୍କ ପତ୍ରରେ ଉଲ୍ଲେଖ କରିଛନ୍ତି।

ଲୋକାଲ ୱାୟାର

Filed Under: Odia, Opinion Tagged With: Opinion, ଓଡିଶା, ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱର

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ଲୋକପ୍ରିୟ

ଶବହେବାକୁ ଭାବିଥିଲେ, ଏବେ ଶବକୁ ସାଥୀ କରିଛନ୍ତି ସାଥୀ ଋତୁରାଣୀ (ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର)

ଏମିତି ଜଣେ ମହିଳା ହେଲେ ଋତୁରାଣୀ ସେନାପତି । ନିଜ ଘର ବାଲେଶ୍ୱର ହୋଇଥିଲେ ବି ରହୁଛନ୍ତି ପୁରୁଣା ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱର ଅଞ୍ଚଳରେ ।

ଅନ୍ୟ ଝିଅମାନଙ୍କ ଭଳି ସେ ବି ସ୍ୱପ୍ନ ଦେଖିଥିଲେ । ବିବାହ କରିବେ, ସ୍ୱାମୀ, ପରିବାର, ପିଲାମାନଙ୍କ ସହ ସମୟ କାଟିବେ ।

ତିନି ହଜାର ବର୍ଷର ଇତିହାସର ଗନ୍ତାଘର- ଓଡ଼ିଶା ରାଜ୍ୟ ସଂଗ୍ରହାଳୟ

ସଂଗ୍ରହାଳୟର ସମୃଦ୍ଧ ତାଳପତ୍ର ପାଣ୍ଡୁଲିପି ଗ୍ୟାଲେରିରେ ୨୭ଟି ବିଷୟରେ ୨୦ ହଜାରରୁ ଅଧିକ ପାଣ୍ଡୁଲିପି ସ୍ଥାନ ପାଇଛି ।

ସେହିପରି ପ୍ରତ୍ୱତତ୍ତ୍ୱ ବିଭାଗରେ ଖ୍ରୀଷ୍ଟପୂର୍ବ ତୃତୀୟ ଶତାବ୍ଦୀରୁ ଆରମ୍ଭ କରି ମଧ୍ୟଯୁଗ ଶେଷ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ସମୟର ସ୍ଥାପତ୍ୟ ତିନିଟି ବିରାଟ ହଲରେ ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶିତ ହେଉଛି ।

ସେଲିବ୍ରିଟି କହିଲେ ମେରି ଖ୍ରୀଷ୍ଟମାସ୍

କେହି କାହାକୁ ଦେଖା ନହୋଇପାରିଲେ କ’ଣ ହେଲା କିନ୍ତୁ ମେରି ଖ୍ରୀଷ୍ଟମାସ୍ କହିବାକୁ ଭୁଲି ନାହାନ୍ତି ।

ଖାସ୍ କରି ବଡ଼ଦିନ ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଆମ ଓଲିଉଡର ତାରକାମାନେ ପ୍ରଶଂସକଙ୍କୁ ମେରି ଖ୍ରୀଷ୍ଟମାସ୍ କହି ବଡ଼ଦିନର ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ଶୁଭକାମନା ଜଣାଇଛନ୍ତି ।

ମାଓଗଡରେ ପିଲାଙ୍କୁ ଶିକ୍ଷିତ କରାଉଛନ୍ତି ଦୁଇ ଝିଅ

କଠିନ ପରିସ୍ଥିତିମଧ୍ୟରେ ଏହି ଝିଅମାନଙ୍କର ଦୃଢ ଆତ୍ମବିଶ୍ୱାସ ଓ ନିରନ୍ତର ପ୍ରୟାସ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଉଦାହରଣ ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରିଛି ।

ମାଓଗଡରେ ବୋମା ବନ୍ଧୁକର ଗର୍ଜନକୁ ନ ଡରି ସେମାନେ ସ୍ୱାଭାବିକ ଭାବେ ଶିକ୍ଷାର ବାତାବରଣ ଗଢି ତୋଳୁଛନ୍ତି ।

ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ଭୋକାଲ ଫର୍ ଲୋକାଲ କ୍ରେଜ୍

ଭୋକାଲ୍ ଫର ଲୋକାଲର ମନ୍ତ୍ରକୁ ଆପଣେଇ ବକୁଲ୍ ଫାଉଣ୍ଡେସନ୍ ଭିନ୍ନ ଅନ୍ଦାଜରେ ଏହି କ୍ୟାମ୍ପେନ୍ ଆରମ୍ଭ କରିଛି ।

ଯେଉଁଥିରେ ପ୍ରିୟଜନଙ୍କୁ ଉପହାର ଆକାରରେ ଓ ଅଭ୍ୟର୍ଥନା ସ୍ୱରୂପ ଗଛଟିଏ ଉପହାର ଦେବାକୁ ପ୍ରୋତ୍ସାହିତ କରାଯାଉଛି ।

ପାହାଡ଼ି ମହିଳାଙ୍କ ହସ୍ତତନ୍ତ ଏବେ ଫ୍ଲିପକାର୍ଟରେ, ସଫଳତାର କାହାଣୀ କହୁଛି ସିଲକ୍ ପାର୍କ

ଘରର ଚାରିକାନ୍ଥ ଡେଇଁ ଏମାନେ ବାହାରିଛନ୍ତି ବାହାରକୁ । ନିଜ ହାତରେ ନିଜେ ବୁଣିଛନ୍ତି ସ୍ୱପ୍ନର ମିନାର ।

କଠିନ ପରିଶ୍ରମ ଓ ବୃତ୍ତି ପ୍ରତି ଆସକ୍ତି ହିଁ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ରେଶମ ଦୁନିଆରେ ଦେଇଛି ନୂଆ ପରିଚୟ ।

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