Odisha, formerly Orissa, is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the eighth-largest state by area, and the eleventh-largest by population, with over 41 million inhabitants. The state also has the third-largest population of Scheduled Tribes in India. It neighbours the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal to the north, Chhattisgarh to the west, and Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to the south. Odisha has a coastline of 485 kilometres (301 mi) along the Bay of Bengal in Indian Ocean. The region is also known as Utkaḷa and is mentioned by this name in India's national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. The language of Odisha is Odia, which is one of the Classical languages of India.
Bhubaneswar is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Odisha, located in the Khordha district. The region, especially the old town, was historically often depicted as Chakra Kshetra and Ekamra Kshetra. Bhubaneswar is dubbed the "Temple City", a nickname earned because of the 700 temples which once stood there. In contemporary times, it has emerged as an education hub and an attractive business destination.
Cuttack, is the former capital and the second largest city in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the headquarters of the Cuttack district. The name of the city is an anglicised form of the Odia and Sanskrit name Kataka which literally means The Fort, a reference to the ancient Barabati Fort around which the city initially developed. Cuttack is known as the Millennium City as well as the Silver City due to its history of 1000 years and famous silver filigree works. The Orissa High Court is located there. It is the commercial capital of Odisha which hosts many trading and business houses in and around the city. Cuttack is famous for its Durga Puja which is one of the most important festivals of Odisha. The city is categorised as a Tier-II city as per the ranking system used by Government of India.
Rasgulla is a syrupy dessert popular in the eastern part of South Asia. It is made from ball-shaped dumplings of chhena dough, cooked in light sugar syrup. This is done until the syrup permeates the dumplings.
Bijayananda Patnaik was an Indian politician, aviator and businessman. He served as the 3rd Chief Minister of the State of Odisha from 1961 to 1963 and from 1990 to 1995. He was also the 14th Steel and mines and 1st Coal Union Minister of India from 1979 to 1980 and from 1977 to 1979 and a member of Lok Sabha from Kendrapara from 1977 to 1985. He is the father of Naveen Patnaik, who is the current CM of Odisha and currently the longest serving CM of Odisha.
Previously a neglected aspect of the Indian Central government, Education in Odisha is witnessing a rapid transformation. Its capital city, Bhubaneswar, is emerging as a knowledge hub in India with several new public and private universities, including the establishment of an Indian Institute of Technology after five decades of demand.
Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) is a public state university located in Rourkela, Odisha, India. It was established on 21 November 2002 and was named after Biju Patnaik, the former Chief Minister of Odisha.
The Odia cinema, colloquially known as Ollywood, is the Odia language Indian film industry, based in Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack in Odisha, India. The name Ollywood is a portmanteau of the words Odia and Hollywood.
Mrinal Chatterjee is an Indian academic and author. He heads the Indian Institute of Dhenkanal. He has authored five academic books on media studies in Odia, including History of Journalism in Odisha and Glossary of Terms for Media Persons. His has authored ten novels and seven short story collections in Odia, including Jagate Thiba Jate Dina published (2010), Kandhei (2013), Eka Sundar Chandini Ratire (2016), Yamraj Chutire (2015), Yamraj Number 5003 (2016), which is translated into Assamese, and a series of columns in Odia
Gourahari Das is a creative writer, journalist and an academician.
Brajanath Ratha was an Indian poet who wrote in Odia. Brajanath Ratha is internationally recognised and is the recipient of many prestigious awards like the Odisha Sahitya Academy Award, Vishuba Award, Gokarnika Award, First Shudramuni Sahitya Award and Honoured by South Korea's Ambassador, from Global Cooperation Society International, Seol, Republic of Korea for Contribution in World welfare, Cooperation and Services.
Rāmachandra Mishra, better known by his pen name Faturananda, was an Indian humorist and satirical writer in Odia. He was the founder of the Sarasa Sāhitya Samiti, a literary organisation. Mishra established "Kāntakabi Award" in the name of Laxmikanta Mohapatra. His early life was spent in struggling which is the core part of his autobiography Mo phutā dangāra kāhāni. Mishra preferred "Faturānanda" as a pen name in all his writings. Some of his popular writings include Nākatā Chitrakar (1953), Sāhi Mahābharat. His satirical writings in Odia were based on political reality and prevailing cynicism.
Soumya Ranjan Patnaik is an Indian politician and the founder-editor of the Odia daily Sambad. He is also a feature film producer as well as a successful business personality. He was elected to 11th Lok Sabha from Bhubaneswar on Indian National Congress ticket. After he was expelled from Congress he floated a new political party 'Aama Odisha Party' (AOP). He is married to Sudatta Patnaik, daughter of Janaki Ballabh Patnaik and Jayanti Patnaik. He is the brother of former OPCC President and former Minister Niranjan Patnaik.
Bhupen Mahapatra is an Odia novelist, columnist, and short story writer.
Dr. Nikhilanand Panigrahy is a popular Indian Science writer and columnist from Odisha. He has been contributing regularly to a variety of prominent Oriya news papers and magazines since 1973.
Namrata Mohanty is an Odia singer based in Cuttack, Odisha, India. She is a B-High grade singer of All India Radio (AIR), Cuttack since 1983. She is a science graduate from Brahmapur University. She was undergoing Masters, but discontinued because of illness.
Sarat Kumar Kar was a politician and writer from Odisha, India. He was a member of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) political party.
Chhatrapur railway station is one of two railway stations in Chatrapur, this being the main railway station in Ganjam district, Odisha. Its code is CAP. It serves Chhatrapur city and another one is Chatrapur Court halt, which code is CAPC. It is situated in the heart of the town, where only DMU, EMU, and passenger trains are stopping.
Sakala is an Indian newspaper of Odia language which is published daily from Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It is one of the fastest growing Odia newspapers in Odisha. It is published from the capital city of Bhubaneswar, as well as from Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Balasore, Jajpur, Jeypore, and Angul. The first edition of this newspaper was published on December 1, 2020, in Bhubaneswar. Dr. Umakanta Mishra, joined as editor of the Sakala.
Odisha University of Health Sciences (OUHS) is a public state medical university located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, established in 2023 by an Act of the Odisha Legislative Assembly.
