"AN OPEN LETTER BY AN ODIA TO REST OF THE INDIA"

 How many times have we (Odias) found out a strange blank look and adding to it the lifted brows, the moment we have replied to their question, “Where are you from?”

“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.