Bande Utkala Janani
Bande Utkala Janani is an Odia patriotic poem written by Laxmikanta Mohapatra in 1912.[1] Odisha became the first state in British India to be formed on linguistic basis on 1 April 1936. The music was first recorded by Gokul Mohanty in 1932.[2] The modern notation was arranged by the Odissi musician Balakrushna Dash[3] which was adopted as the state anthem. The Odisha Cabinet on 7 June 2020,[4] accorded the poem the status as the Anthem of Odisha.[5][6]
| English: I Adore Thee, O Mother Utkala | |
|---|---|
| ବନ୍ଦେ ଉତ୍କଳ ଜନନୀ | |
 Emblem of Odisha | |
State anthem of Odisha | |
| Lyrics | Laxmikanta Mohapatra, 1912 |
| Music | Gokul Mohanty, 1932 (arranged by Balakrushna Dash) |
| Adopted | 7 June 2020 |
| Audio sample | |
Bande Utkala Janani
| |
History
This song was first sung at the Utkal Sammilani's Conference at Balasore in 1912. It was used as a weapon by the Utkal Sammilani to emancipate Odisha. In a meeting at Bhadrak, where the poet Mohapatra was felicitated, the then young leader of Odisha Harekrushna Mahtab admitted that the poet Laxmikanta's patriotic songs have inspired him a lot. In the past, outsiders like Mughals, Marathas and Britishers ruled Odisha and its geographical boundaries changed from time to time accordingly.
The poem envisages a Utkala who maintains her self-respect and dignity from a position of confidence and strength rather than insecurity and fear. This movement for a separate province also gathered momentum in Odisha. The Utkal Sammilani (a federation of Odias) was leading this movement. This influenced the poet Laxmikanta Mohapatra, who was then young and energetic. He started writing Bande Utkala Janani (Glory To The Mother Utkala!) and some other fiery songs with a patriotic motive. Well, known national poet of Odisha Banchhanidhi Mohanty was also a good singer. He used to sing Laxmikanta's patriotic songs throughout Odisha and inspired everyone. Once Rabindra Nath Tagore wrote in one of his essays i.e. "A Vision of India's History" that 'the history of India has been the history of a struggle between the mechanical spirit of conformity in social organization and the creative spirit of man which seeks freedom and love in self-expression' justifies Laxmikanta as a true patriotic poet.
Adoption
The State Government's decision to stand up to pay respect when the song is played has been praised. Therefore, it was made compulsory at the end of any Odisha Legislative Assembly Session and in the beginning of school prayer in State Govt. schools in Odisha during the 1990s.
It was a long standing demand of people of the state to accord state song status to this poem which has been passed by the State cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik after the Odias across the globe had come together on the clarion of Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik to sing Bande Utkala Janani on 5:30 pm of May 30 to boost the morale of frontline workers or COVID-19 warriors tackling the coronavirus outbreak.[7][8]
Lyrics
| Odia original[9][10] | Romanization | English translation |
|---|---|---|
|
ବନ୍ଦେ ଉତ୍କଳ ଜନନୀ ପୂତ-ପୟୋଧି-ବିଧୌତ-ଶରୀରା, ଘନ ଘନ ବନଭୂମି ରାଜିତ ଅଙ୍ଗେ, ସୁନ୍ଦରଶାଳି-ସୁଶୋଭିତ-କ୍ଷେତ୍ରା, ସୁନ୍ଦର ମନ୍ଦିର ମଣ୍ଡିତ-ଦେଶା, ଉତ୍କଳ ସୁରବର-ଦର୍ପିତ-ଗେହା, କବିକୁଳମୌଳି ସୁନନ୍ଦନ-ବନ୍ଦ୍ୟା, |
Bande utkaḷa jananī Pūta-payodhi-bidhauta-śarīrā, Ghana Ghana banabhūmi rājita aṅge, Sundaraśāḷi-suśobhita-kṣetrā, Sundara mandira maṇḍita-deśā, Utkaḷa surabara-darpita-gehā, Kabikuḷamauḷi sunandana-bandyā, |
I adore Thee, O Mother Utkala! Bath’d art Thou by the sacred Sea, Thy body bedeck’d with dense woodlands, How charming are Thy rich fields of paddy! Thy land bejewelled with splendid shrines, Thou Home to the valiant heroes of Utkala, Greeted by Thy great sons, the crowning bards, |
See also
References
- Gurukalyan Mahapatra (2005). "The Story of Vande Utkal Janani The National Song of Orissa" (PDF). Odisha Review. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
- "The Many Versions Of 'Bande Utkala Janani' Including 1932 Gramophone Record By Gokul Mohanty". Odisha Bytes. 30 May 2020. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- "Odisha Sets Bande Utkala Janani Anthem Duration At 2 Minutes 11 Seconds". Odisha TV. 8 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- "Odisha CM Office's Announcement". Archived from the original on 2021-09-10. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
- "Odisha accords state anthem status to Bande Utkala Janani". Hindustan Times.
- "Bande Utkala Janani is State song of Odisha". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- "Odisha unites to recite 'Bande Utkala Janani' to honour Covid warriors". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 2020-06-07. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
- "Bande Utkala Janani: Odisha unites over CM Patnaik's call to show solidarity with frontline workers". India Today. Archived from the original on 2020-06-07. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
- "Orissa Annual Reference 2005". Archived from the original on 2012-06-27. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
- "Odisha Review 2016" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-04-02. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
.png.webp){kind=small}
