“Am
from Odisha“
You may be answering this to your co-passenger in a journey
or to the new other state friends you have made just now after joining this new
university or to your colleagues, even to your most qualified boss… let me make
it precise by putting it down this way, like whenever you have been asked by
any non-Odia or someone who have never been to Odisha.
“ODISHA?????”
A big question mark pops up on their head. Eye balls
make a complete rotation and then they close their eyes forcefully giving an
impression that the person is thinking something very seriously. I mean she/he is trying to recall something. After some time with a concerted face they
start to murmur, “udishaaa…right?” “By
the way where it is??” “Have not heard of it much”
“It’s one of the 29 states of the Republic of India.
…”
“You don’t know that??? Huh!!!”
That certainly shows your ignorance.
In
the schools we have been taught the states and their capitals. How can you
forget the name of a state? You have not
heard of my state doesn’t mean that it do not exist, it simply means you are
ignorant or you haven’t done your schooling properly. Am sorry if am rude but
seriously you need to hear this. Next time before laughing at jokes on Alia
Bhatt just remind yourself that you at least know the names of all the states
of India.
When
you have said me that you are from Gorakhpur, Gwalior, Nagpur, Shimla, Cochin
and what not places, I have always understood and acknowledged. Then why can’t
you?
“Odisha
is the poorest state of India, right (Mockingly)?” the next question in the row.
“Let me make it very clear that Odisha is not the
poorest state of India but at the same time I won’t deny that Odisha is one of
the poor states of India.”
“Yes, our state is poor. So what?”
“Did we beg in front of you?”
“Did my state ever asked for some fund to your rich
state?”
Odisha is speedily growing economic wise as it
has a large amount of growth rates in gross state domestic products as shown in
the reports by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Odisha's
GDP has grown by a stunning 8.74% way beyond the definition of 7% growth. It
should be noted that the all-India growth during this period was 8.49%.
As, you say about Odisha, world speaks the same
about India, “You are poor”. Odisha is also a part of India. Let me ask you
what step have you taken till now to eradicate poverty from India?
“You have not, right??” Then please don’t talk
like some leading economist about the poverty prevailing in my state.
“Odisha
is the least developed state, I mean have never heard of it”
“How did you come to know that Odisha is least
developed?”
“What is the basis of your statement?” “I mean on
what scale did you measure the development and you considered Odisha as the
least developed one?”
“Come on; don’t make any assumption on the basis of
your ignorance. You don’t know about the state, you have never been to this
place or you have never been an enthusiast to know about Odisha, doesn’t make
it least developed or least known place.
Just that we haven’t produced much international cricketers
and Bollywood film stars don’t make us least known. Just that there was no big
crime in the past few years which would have appeared in the national
television or just that there was no huge political cry in our state which
would have been discussed or debated at national level do not make us least
known.”
In this period, Odisha is the fourth fastest
growing state of India. It has always attracted international investors in
Steel and Power sector. Recently it has become the favorite of IT sector too
and it soon going to become the next IT hub of India.
In the year 2009 Odisha was the second top
domestic investment destination with Gujarat first and Andhra Pradesh in third
place according to an analysis of ASSCHAM Investments meter study on corporate
investments.
Huge infrastructural developments have taken
place and many are in progress. I cant mention them all here. (If you are
really interested, Kindly Google it out)
And when you talk of
it as least known, I feel piety on you. All the tourist spots, historical
places and temples of Odisha attract millions of tourists from around the globe
every year. Come and check Jagannath temple at Puri or Sun temple at Konark.
Come in the time of RathYatra, you will find yourself lost. Come now,
“Nabakalebara” is going to take place and I am sure you will be startled to see
the extravagance and the foreigners flooding our state. I have just mentioned
two places; a long list is still left to be mentioned.
Our dance form,
Odissi is world famous. Haven’t you heard of it? Our odissi dancers have
brought our country laurels by performing throughout the world. Come and see
how many foreigners come to Odisha just to learn this dance form.
“It’s
the state of Naxalites, right?”
“State of naxalites?” “What do you mean by that?”
Our state is being run by Government as any other
state of India is being governed, not by Naxalites. And you speak as if we have
Naxalites under each roof, as if each mother gives birth to atleast one
Naxalite, as if they roam freely with grenades in their hands on our streets. I
know Naxalism is a threatening issue which is not confined only to my state.
Naxalites exists in many other states in the inaccessible areas. Both the
Government of India and the Affected State Governments are taking necessary
steps to eradicate this problem.
Your
state is a tribal state, right?
What do you mean by a tribal state? If you mean that
tribes still exist in Odisha, then I shall say yes. If you mean that they share
a fraction of our population, then I shall say yes. And we are proud of it.
Our government is
taking necessary steps in preserving their culture and at the same time helping
in their growth and bringing them to the mainstream population by formulating
various reservations.
You have always laughed at us while we eat.
Yes, we eat rice in water (Pakhala). It’s our favorite dish.
You have always mocked this by saying why this rice is floating in water? In
south India when we ate idly, dosa, vada our beloved North Indian friends
laughed at us. When we ate aloo parathas, chole bhatures, dishes of paneer my
South Indian friends joked us. They always had a doubt that how can we get accustomed
to all kind of foods so easily?? Seeing us eating Pakhala (rice in water) they
have always misinterpreted that we (Odias) do not get to see these dishes and
so I can eat anything, south Indian Idly or North Indian parathas.
But how can I explain them that we are all familiar with
these dishes? Idly, dosa, vadas are our usual breakfasts. Sometimes we opt Parathas
over them too. How can I explain them that all the dishes normally cooked at
our homes and available in our restaurants shares a link with both North Indian
and South Indian style? Our food habit
comprises of rice and roti, sambhar and dal, chicken and paneer. We are all
familiar with them already. So I get easily gel up with food anywhere
throughout India. I have already said; don’t conclude things unless and until
you come to Odisha.
You are
talking about food to an Odia whose culinary tradition is spanning over
centuries. I am from the holy land of Jagannath whose kitchen is reputed to be
the largest in the world, with 1,000 chefs, working around 752 wood-burning
clay hearths called chulas, to feed over 10,000 people each day. Rasgulla
originated from Odisha. The well-known Kheer that is relished all over India
originates in Puri, 2,000 years ago.
Anyways, I have always said I am an Odia, I will never
complain about food. I can stay happily on Pakhala (rice in water) with smashed
potato mixed with onion and chilly. That’s it.
We are Odias. We do not like to show up usually. We are less
demanding. We are peace loving persons. We know to compromise and adjust a lot.
If you have an Odia roommate you will never find him/her nagging for this thing
or that. We usually get gel up easily with anyone. You will never find Odia
guys or girls forming a separate group at any university or work place outside
Odisha. But am sure there must be one or two Odias in your group.
We usually shy out for late night parties or night outs but
that certainly do not mean that we are less friendly. That simply means we have
never done it before and are little afraid of it. Believe me; wait for an Odia to open up (She/he takes time though) and
see the blast.
You have always commented us for being less stylish.
Come on, style is something we can carry and be confident in.
Yes, I admit that we are less funky or shy to try out any new style but that
doesn’t mean we are less stylish.
Let me
put it in this way and most of Odias will agree with me too that we like it
being classy more than being funky.
We are calm, simple, shy and loving persons. We prove to be
great friends. We have our own habits as you have your own. Don’t laugh at us
when we bow down infront of each temple on our way. That’s our habit too. We will love to adjust with you and expect the
same from you too.
Start acknowledging us. Acknowledge Odisha if for nothing just for the
fact that it’s a part our country. As we Acknowledge you, Acknowledge us. Know
about Odisha, visit this beautiful place, relish its delicious dishes and then
make any conclusion.
(Anyways,
if I have been rude anywhere in this article kindly pardon me.)
NOTE- To all Odias staying
outside-
“Kindly do not lose your identity. Do not shy out to say that you are from
Odisha. Do not ignore any Odia who is new to that place. Our unity can only bring acknowledgement to our state, not this blog of
mine.
