Language and Literature of Odisha

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:

1. Understand the history and development of the Odia language.
2. Learn about the various dialects and scripts of Odia.
3. Explore the richness of Odia literature across poetry, prose, and plays.
4. 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:

1. Baleswari (Balasore): Spoken in Balaswar, Bhadrak, and Mayurbhanj districts.
2. Sambalpuri (Sambalpur): Found in Sambalpur, Baragarh, Balangir, and other western districts.
3. Ganjami (Ganjam and Koraput): Spoken in Ganjam and Gajapati districts.
4. Kataki: Predominantly used in the Mughalbandi region and known as Standard Odia, representing the language in literary works.
5. Puri: Localized to Puri district.
6. Bhatri: Spoken in South-Western Odisha, especially in Koraput.

Minor Non-literary and Tribal Dialects

Several tribal dialects enrich Odia’s diversity:

1. Aghria: Indigenous to Western Odisha.
2. Bathudi: Used in Northern Odisha.
3. Kalahandia: Found in the Kalahandi district.
4. Laria: Spoken in bordering areas of Western Odisha.
5. Sadri: A mix of Odia and Hindi with regional tribal influence.

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

• The Charyapada marked the beginning of Odia poetry, with metaphoric Sandhya Bhasha written by Vajrayana Buddhist poets. Poets like Luipa and Kanhupa contributed to this early tradition.
• Sarala Das emerged in the 15th century as the first prominent Odia poet. His Mahabharata translation laid a foundation for Odia literature.
• Subsequent periods introduced Kalpanika (imaginative) and Paranika (Puranic) Kavyas, with works by Narsingha Sena and translations of Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda.
• Modern Odia poetry evolved through figures like Radnanath Roy and Sachi Kanta Raut Ray.

2. Age of Prose

• The earliest prose work, Rudrasudhanidhi, was composed by Abhadutta Narayan Swami.
• Madala Panji, the Palm-leaf Chronicles, dates back to the 12th century.
• Upendra Bhanja and Fakir Mohan Senapati significantly expanded the Odia lexicon, the latter known as the Father of Modern Oriya Literature.

3. Religious Writings

• The Bhakti Movement in the 14th-16th centuries influenced religious literature in Odia, particularly by authors like Balarama Das, Jagannatha Das, and Yasovanta Das. Collectively known as the Panchasakhas, they were crucial to the Utkaliya Vaishnavism school.

4. Age of Plays

• Dramatic literature in Odia began with the play ‘Babaji’ by Jagmohan Leela in 1877. Modern playwrights like Kabai Chandra Kalicharan Patnaik further enriched the genre.

Prominent Authors and Their Works

1. Jayadeva: Composed Geeta Govinda, integral to Odissi music and dance.
2. Sarala Das: Known for Odia Mahabharata, Vilanka Ramayana.
3. Upendra Bhanja: The Kabi-Samrat, with key works like Labanyabati and Baidehisha Bilasa.
4. Fakir Mohan Senapati: Authored the influential novel Chha Mana Atha Gunta.
5. Gourishankar Ray: Led the Save Odia Movement, edited UtkalDeepika.
6. Bhima Bhoi: Advocated humanity through works like Stuti Chintamani.
7. Pratibha Ray: Contemporary novelist, awarded Jnanpith.

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

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

1. Jayadeva (1170-1245 AD): Composed the Gita Govinda, influencing Odissi music and dance.
2. Sarala Das (15th century): Authored the Odia Mahabharata, enriching the language.
3. Deenakrushna Das (1650-1710 AD): Created Rasakallola, depicting the divine leela of Radha and Krishna.
4. Upendra Bhanja (1670 AD): The Kabi-Samrat, enhanced Odia poetry with Reeti style.
5. Bhima Bhoi (1850-1895): A spiritual poet, known for advocating service to humanity.

Note: Kabisurya Baladev Rath and Gourishankar Ray were pivotal in Odia literary preservation, particularly through movements and publications.

Modern Writers and Their Contributions

1. Manoj Das: A prolific writer in Odia and English, recipient of the Padma Shri.
2. Sitakant Mahapatra: Awarded Jnanpith and Padma Vibhushan, his works delve into tribal poetry.
3. Pratibha Ray: A novelist known for exploring social and cultural themes in Odia.

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?

1. Jayadeva
2. Sarala Das
3. Upendra Bhanja
4. Bhima Bhoi
   Correct Answer: 2. Sarala Das