Odia is the official language of Odisha and also recognized as the second official language of Jharkhand. It belongs to the Eastern Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family and is India’s sixth largest spoken language, extending beyond Odisha into parts of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh. In 2014, Odia achieved the status of a classical language, joining Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the history and development of the Odia language.
- Learn about the various dialects and scripts of Odia.
- Explore the richness of Odia literature across poetry, prose, and plays.
- Recognize prominent authors and their contributions to Odia literature.
Odia Language and Its Development
The first Odia inscription dates back to 1051 AD at Urajang. Earlier discoveries show inscriptions in ancient Kalinga from the 6th century AD, suggesting Odia’s roots in Sanskrit. Odia shares close associations with Assamese, Bengali, and Maithili, with about 60 million speakers. It evolved from Odra-Magadhi Prakrit, spoken over 1500 years ago in Eastern India. The language has minimal influence from Persian and Arabic.
Odia Dialects
The variations in Odia are regionally distinct, including:
Minor Non-literary and Tribal Dialects
Several tribal dialects enrich Odia’s diversity:
Important Note: Odia has very limited influence from Persian and Arabic languages, maintaining a distinctive linguistic heritage.
Odia Script
The Odia script is an offshoot of the ancient Kalinga script and is written from left to right. It consists of 52 alphabets (11 vowels and 41 consonants) and employs more than 200 compound characters. The script, central to Odia culture, is applied across education, administration, arts, and cultural practices.
Odia Literature
Odia literature is rich and religious in nature, comprising poetry, prose, and plays.
1. Age of Poetry
2. Age of Prose
3. Religious Writings
4. Age of Plays
Prominent Authors and Their Works
Important Concept: The Purnachandra Odia Bhashakosha by Gopal Chandra Prahraj is a monumental 7-volume lexicon listing 1,85,000 words across Odia, English, Hindi, and Bengali.
Comparison of Notable Odia Authors and Works
Book | Author |
---|---|
Gita Govinda | Jayadeva |
Odia Mahabharata | Sarala Das |
Keshaba Koili | Markanda Das |
Dandi Ramayan, Amar Kosh | Balaram Das |
Shreemada Bhagawat | Jagannath Das |
Hari Bansa | Achyutananda Das |
Rasa Kallola | Dinakrushna Das |
Labanyabati | Upendra Bhanja |
Stuti Chintamani | Bhima Bhoi |
Pragati Yug and Literary Progress
The Pragati Yug or Progressive Movement in 1935 spurred the Nabajuga Sahitya Sansad, led by writers like Nabakrushna Choudhary. The magazine Adhunika became the first progressive literary magazine in Odia.
Eminent Personalities of Odisha Literature
Note: Kabisurya Baladev Rath and Gourishankar Ray were pivotal in Odia literary preservation, particularly through movements and publications.
Modern Writers and Their Contributions
Concept: Odia literature has evolved to include progressive movements, marking a shift from traditional religious themes to modern societal issues.
MCQ: Which of the following poets translated the Mahabharata into Odia?
- Jayadeva
- Sarala Das
- Upendra Bhanja
- Bhima Bhoi
Correct Answer: 2. Sarala Das