Bhubaneshwar: The Odisha government has approved a proposal to restore the original Odia spellings of 64 place names across 26 districts, replacing several anglicised versions that had remained in official use since the colonial era.
According to a report by Business Standard, the decision was cleared during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday. The initiative is part of the state government’s broader push to strengthen “Odia asmita” or Odia identity by reviving historically accurate names rooted in local pronunciation and tradition.
Colonial-Era Spellings To Be Replaced
The proposal, brought forward by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, seeks to restore original Odia phonetic forms in official English records. Many of the current spellings were introduced during British rule and gradually became part of maps, railway records, postal documents and government communication systems.
Under the approved changes, names such as “Aul” will be revised to “Aali”, while “Balasore” will return to its traditional form “Baleshwar”. Other locations included in the list are Anugola, Baragada, Kataka, Khordha, Debagada, Nayagada, Sonpur, Sundaragada, Brahmapur, Jayapur, Redhakhol, Asika and Sora.
Officials stated that many of the English spellings currently in use were distortions created through colonial transliteration practices that failed to accurately reflect Odia pronunciation.
Committee Reviewed Historical Records And Public Feedback
The process began after Chief Minister Majhi raised concerns that several English spellings of towns and districts did not match authentic Odia pronunciation and weakened the state’s linguistic identity.
District collectors were instructed to identify discrepancies between official English spellings and original Odia names. Suggestions were also invited from scholars, public representatives, cultural organisations and citizens from across the state.
To examine the recommendations, the Odisha government formed a high-level committee headed by noted Odia author Pratibha Ray. The panel studied historical records and reviewed public feedback before finalising the revised spellings. The recommendations were also placed in the public domain for a month to ensure transparency and citizen participation.
Gazette Notification To Be Issued Soon
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the Cabinet approval would now pave the way for formal implementation of the revised spellings.
She stated that the Odisha government would soon issue a Gazette notification and inform the Ministry of Home Affairs so that central agencies, including the Survey of India, Indian Railways, Department of Posts and the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, can update their records accordingly.
Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, said place names represent history, language and collective memory, adding that restoring original names would help preserve Odisha’s cultural legacy.
Part Of Wider Effort To Promote Odia Identity
The restoration exercise is being viewed as part of a broader cultural initiative undertaken by the BJP-led Odisha government since coming to power in June 2024.
Over the past two years, the state administration has introduced multiple measures aimed at promoting the Odia language, preserving cultural heritage and increasing the use of Odia in governance and public administration.
The move also follows earlier renaming exercises across India, including Bombay to Mumbai, Calcutta to Kolkata, Madras to Chennai and Bangalore to Bengaluru. Odisha itself was officially renamed from Orissa in 2011 to better align the English name with Odia pronunciation.
Also Read: Brazil’s Ethanol Journey Offers Reality Check for India’s Fuel Strategy
-
-
-
-
