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Friday, December 23, 2011

Whither KOSAL - An intro about KOSAL written in 1946


This manuscript was published some time around 1946.
The author of this manuscript is unknown.

This document was obtained from
Mr.Dilip Kumar Padhi
Hotel Sujata, Sambalpur---- KOSHAL, 768 001 INDIA
mail:vu2dpi@gmail.com
URL:http://www.qsl.net/vu2dpi

Whither Koshal

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Kosal Kranti Dal (KKD) to launch a month-long stir for Kosal State from Dec 23

Originally Written By Sudhir Misra for DailyPioneer

The Kosal Kranti Dal (KKD) will launch a movement in the entire ‘Kosalanchal’ region to sensitise people about its demand for a separate Kosal State from December 23 to January 23 next.

This was announced to the media on Sunday by KKD chief Pramod Mishra. The entire ‘Kosalanchal’ has been divided into five zones along with Boudh and Athmallik subdivision of Angul district, he said.

Commenting on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s move to create four smaller States out of the existing UP, Mishra observed that it is high time the Government of Odisha adopted a resolution in the State Assembly in favour of a Kosal State. All political parties should come forward to join hands for formation of a separate Kosal State, Mishra said.

The month-long movement in Balangir district would start from Harishankar on December 23, and simultaneous Yatras would be organised in the other districts of the region, Mishra informed.

“After this movement, we will visit New Delhi and put forth our demand of creation of a separate Kosal State to Centre leaders. We will also stage a dharna before the Parliament during its next session,” Mishra informed further.

Interstate Sambalpuri Drama Competition At Sambalpur

The 15th Veer Surendra Sai Inter-state Sambalpuri Drama Competition, organised by Yuba Udayan, will be held at the Aranyaka Mandap at Jharuapara , Sambalpur from 24th December to 31st December 2011.

As many as 22 sambalpuri-Kosli drama will be performed on the stage with three dramas per day.
The dramas will start from 6 PM daily.

  • Yuba Udayan started in 1997 to bring all the theatre activists otogether.
  • Veer Surendra Sai All Orissa Sambalpuri Drama Competition was born for the revival forthe Kosli / Sambalpuri drama activities. In the inaugural year only 19 plays were presented and the next fourteen years witnessed 346 plays being staged. Kosli theatre has engaged scripts, directors and artists to work for performing these dramas.

FIND BELOW THE DETAIL LIST OF SAMBALPURI DRAMA'S TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS COMPETITION





Friday, December 16, 2011

Archaeological Explorations and Excavations in Western Orissa

By Sri Sasanka S. Panda

The explorations of archaeological sites of the western part of Orissa was taken up by the Britishers soon after the Archaeological Survey of India was established with Major General Alexander Cunningham as its first Director General. His assistant Mr. Joseph D. Beglar surveyed the Upper Mahanadi Valley (both Orissa
and Chhattisgarh regions) and could locate places like Rajapadar (Belkhandi) in Kalahandi district,Ranipur Jharial and Titilagarh in Balangir district,Narsinghnath in Bargarh district and Baud town having archaeological remains and early temples as well as temple ruins. He undertook an extensive tour of this area in 1874-76 and has
left a graphic account of what he discovered in these places, which is published in Volume-XIII of the Archaeological Survey of India Report in 1882. Beglar's Report on Narsinghnath has been quoted in the Sambalpur District Gazetteer (1932) by Mr. F.C. King in pages 248-250. Mr.King has reproduced another Report of the
Archeological Survey of India for 1904-05 on Narsinghnath by noted Orientalist and historian Mr.G.R.Bhandarkar.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW AND DOWNLOAD THE PDF FILE ABOUT VARIOUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS AND EXCAVATIONS IN KOSAL (WESTERN ORISSA)

Archaeological explorations in Western Odisha


Thursday, December 1, 2011

Starvation Death Continues in Kosal - 3 died in Nuapada

News Courtesy :- The New Indian Express

The spectre of starvation deaths continues to haunt KOSAL region (western Odisha), with three more suspected cases being reported from Sinapali block of Nuapada district in the last two days.

The State Advisor to the Commission of Supreme Court on the Right to Food is scheduled to visit the block to ascertain the cause of the deaths.
Reports said Laxman Jagat (27) of Kuliadangri village in Karanbahal gram panchayat died on Friday.His brother, Ghasi Jagat in his complaint to the police said Laxman was suffering from prolonged illness due to malnutrition. His wife and daughter left the house leaving behind Laxman and his widowed mother.Since then the two have been surviving on her meagre old-age pension.

And a day after Laxman breathed his last, Lochani Bewa (60) of the village also died due to malnutrition.While the villagers accused his son of not taking care of him, there is no denying that he died without food.No rice was procured using the Antodaya card for the last three months.

Similarly, Durbal Nag (55) of the village also died on Saturday leaving behind a physically-challenged son, Ralen.The father-son duo depended on their quota rice which failed to reach them in the absence of a proper distribution system.

Block Development Officer (I/c) of Sinapali, Debasis Sinha said while Lochani Bewa and Durbal Nag died of natural causes, medical report of Laxman Jagat is awaited.
He admitted that 10 to 15 beneficiaries had not received rice under various schemes and he was probing the matter.

The distribution of rice in the gram panchayat was virtually stopped after villagers locked the gram panchayat office on September 21 and the arrest of Executive Officer Tankadhar Bhoi for irregularities in the distribution of rice.

His successor Madhab Hati claimed that the villagers had not been cooperating, affecting the distribution.

-----------------------------------------------------

Our view :- Blaming the villagers wont work anymore.It has been more than 7 decades since we got our independence and were forcefully merged with the Orissa province.But till date there is hardly anyone sitting in Bhubaneswar is worried about our people.These blocks of Kosal region are prone to starvation deaths and large scale migration and this is not new...It's been happening since many decades but it seems the Orissa govt has gone into deep sleep...Had these incidents would have happened in Coastal Orissa, the whole state govt Machinery would have become active in helping them round-the clock...The bottom line is still we the people of KOSAL region are being treated indifferently..Our lives don't have values for the colonial masters sitting in Bhubaneswar

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Celebrating 37 years of Rangabati - The Baap Of Indian Folk Music

A rare picture of the RANGABATI team ...This is the team who made the BAAP of all Indian Folk Song "Rangabati"
Singer :- Jitendriya Haripal and Krishna Patel
Lyricist :- Mitrabhanu Gountia
Composer :- Prabhudutta Pradhan

READ BELOW AN FACE TO FACE INTERVIEW WITH THE LEGENDARY SAMBALPURI SINGER JITENDRIYA HARIPAL...

The following interview was published in the Hindu Newspaper on May 27, 2001

Nearly two decades ago, Jitendria Haripal sang 'Rangabati', a number that was on everyone's lips. The cassette outsold the competition. Now, Haripal, a dalit and one of the foremost exponents of Sambalpuri geet, lives in penury in a slum, says noted journalist P. SAINATH.

Rangabati, O Rangabati (Colourful Lady) You are like a golden creeper...

IT was a hit song like almost no other. Though from Orissa, "Rangabati" captured huge areas beyond that State. The Golden Creeper spread through Chattisgarh, then entwined much of the Hindi belt. There was a time in the 1980s when no self-respecting truck driver hit the road without the cassette. Tea shops reminded clients of their existence with the song blaring. No one knows how many vinyl records were sold, but it made gold disc status within its first three or four years of play. As for the cassette version, its sales were in countless lakhs. It generated a fortune in revenues for both music companies and pirates.

The voice that powered that track has lost none of its charm and magnetism, but sounds dejected and weary today. For its owner lives on the breadline in a Sambalpur slum. Jitendria Haripal, a top exponent of Sambalpuri geet, made next to nothing out of the song's financial success. Haripal has shared the stage with other leading artists of this State. That includes former Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang, himself a fine musician. Haripal is a dalit from the Dom community. One who dropped out of school. And was never let into the music sabhas as a youth. The voice that launched "Rangabati" is entirely self-trained.

"Like people whose names you forget, but whose faces you remember, I know the raagas but not their titles.

"It is only when people tell me that the song you have sung is in this or that raag that I get to know the names."

When and how did Haripal decide to go professional?

"But I never did. Even today, I never think of myself as a professional. I am an artist, not a performer. This is a pride not a profession. It is art, not employment. It is a Dom tradition, too. What the people on radio and television call Sambalpuri geet is gaana. The music of the Gaana people. Of the Dom people.

"My father Mandath Haripal did not perform in public the way I did. He tried to make a living picking tendu leaves. But he was a talented musician. I used to go into the fields with him and sing. We were bhumihin (landless). No property, no assets. But we could sing. We had music.

"No. I was never formally trained. Nor did I ever do a course in fine arts. We are dalits, you see. How could we enter a music sabha? That too, in those days? And I could never afford a teacher. So I used to stand outside these sabhas or wherever classes or performances were held, and listen. I can recall times I stood in the rain listening to music shows where I would not be welcome inside. By these means, and simply by singing, I taught myself."

Haripal began as an artiste in All India Radio in 1971. "Those days the recording fee was Rs. 15. Some years later it became Rs. 75." It is Rs. 900 today in his grade which is "Senior B High" artist. But he feels he gets fewer recordings than are due to him each year. He has done road laying work, construction labour and other odd jobs at different times. "Music is not a safe source of earning."

"'Rangabati?' Ah, yes. I knew you would ask me about it. See you have come this distance to talk to me about that song. How many others have heard it in how many places? It is a love story, a duet. A simple love song in pure Sambalpuri style."

"It was an AIR recording around 1975-76. The writer of the song was Mitrabhanu Gaunthiya. As you know, that song exploded on the scene. All know how popular it was, and still is. Soon a music company - INDRECO - got interested. They wanted to cut a record. So around 1976, I went to Calcutta. And the recording took place." But the disc was not released.

The first of a series of tragic events had begun. A dispute over authorship of the tune. Haripal says, "How can anyone doubt it was my tune?" Someone did though and the row dragged on. Interestingly, no one ever denied that the song's phenomenal success was due to Haripal's rendition. Also the lively voice of his female co-singer Krishna Patel. The record was stuck. What happened next is not quite clear, but Haripal says he won in the courts. "The disc was released around 1978-79."

It was a smash hit. "'Rangabati' is an all-time great," says Syantan K. Rath. An Assistant Station Director of AIR at Sambalpur, Rath says, "Cassette sales in lakhs? We should be counting that one in millions. He certainly did a brilliant job with that song." The music company thought so too. It got Haripal to sign a contract. This, he says, was for three years, with the option of a two-year extension. And then the company went into a lockout.

"I was stuck. Even though there was a lockout, I was under contract. I could not perform for anyone else." Two years later, the company in that avatar, he says, closed down. Just when he was to have got a gold disc to honour his record sales. "All I had got was around Rs. 10,000."

Rangabati, Rangabati... You are like a full moon in a damaged  house... 

"I don't know when the cassette came out. All I know is I was told the company had closed down and all my royalties stopped." Meanwhile, companies changed hands. Owners came and went.

Since Haripal was not aware that a newly released edition of his cassette existed, we went to the bazaar. There we found one of the many versions of the cassette that have made the rounds for two decades. The cover does say INDRECO. And "Manufactured and Marketed by the Gramophone Company of India." Packed in July 1999. All of which could still mean nothing. Many pirated versions use the names of big companies. Unless, of course, a revived company was putting out the cassette again.

"Who knows? I certainly do not. Maybe somebody there does not know the history. And what can I do anyway?"

However, the recording quality is quite good. And there is one strange feature to the tape. The voices on it are unmistakable. So is the music, advertised as "Sambalpuree Folk Songs". But nowhere do the names of Jitendria Haripal and Krishna Patel appear on it. That hurts the musician more than anything else. "I cannot get into these fights, you know, I would just be grateful if whoever did this made a just settlement with me. We too, are entitled to a fair deal, no?"

The discovery leaves him dejected but not bitter. "All I want is a fair amount. That which is due to us should come to us.

"We are not cut out to do business, I think. I tried the Cuttack companies, but they finished us. Western Orissa artistes can never get a good deal in coastal Orissa. I once tried financing my other music on my own cassette. The company I went to in Cuttack used sub-standard tape. So that venture collapsed. I lost all my money."

As "Rangabati" rankles, he shifts ground. "I consider myself a student to this day, when I am 50. Maybe because I never got to learn formally. The intolerance we faced as Doms was humiliating. We shrank from the contempt of others. This was, and is, our culture. What you call Sambalpuri culture. But being dalits, that is how we were treated."

The school drop out is a music scholar. "Sambalpuri geet is as old as society. One thing, always remember. Everywhere in the world, folk songs are older than classical tradition. Not just older, but much, much older. I believe all folk music in the world is related. There is some common content, some kinship. In India, those links are deep.

"Sambalpuri has three kinds of geet (song). Of these, prem (love) and mausam (season) geet are deeply related. Mausam geet is 'seasonal' in a wide sense. It includes natural seasons, weddings, harvest, sowing, and the like. After all, when we go to the fields and out into nature, we sing of our lovers. Prem and mausam geet are far more prolific in Sambalpuri than the third type, bhajan.

"I am not just a Sambalpuri singer. My hobby is to listen to folk music from everywhere. Listen..." And he demonstrates the tradition he is talking about. The slum comes alive with Haripal's vibrant voice. With snatches from the songs of the Bauls of Bengal. Of Chattisgarhi love songs. Effortlessly, he makes us see what he is talking about. The common elements of Sambalpuri, Bhojpuri and Oriya. Then of Baul, Chattisgarhi and Dhakia Bengali music. He explores the links of some elements of these to Nepali folk as well. It is impossible to see "Rangabati" as an accident now. This is a versatile musician with a deep understanding of his art.

But it was that song which made him famous. His greatest memory is of the day a crowd that recognised him at Batapur railway station. It refused to let the train move. Not unless Haripal sang "Rangabati". "Finally, the train driver told me that I had better sing a few lines if we wanted the train to move!"

But that day is past. Haripal's family troupe still tours but makes little money. And disaster still strikes. "The rains here two years ago destroyed us," says Chandrika, Haripal's daughter. "We lost all our instruments. Ever since, we have had to hire instruments or borrow them." The troupe gets engagements, but does not make much. "There are all the accompanying artistes to be paid," she says. By the time that is done, Haripal might not be left with Rs. 3,000 from a performance.

Haripal also feels he has been sidelined by the culture establishment. "I was to represent the country at the Festival of India in Moscow. At the last minute I was dropped. This has happened to me many times. Even at the Independence Day Golden Jubilee celebrations in Delhi. They take my song, they do not take me."

Some, though, are sympathetic. "He's a very good artiste, with mass appeal," says AIR's Syantanu Rath. He plays down - as does Haripal himself - the singer's alcohol problems. Those were brought on after the series of reverses and losses he faced. "Haripal is moody and temperamental. Hardly a new thing in a recording artiste."

Rangabati, Rangabati... My heart is full with jasmine fragrance...  

Of my heart is throbbing for you...

Later, all the way down the road to Malkangiri, we found the tea shops still had the song. "Rangabati" is not forgotten. Haripal is, though.

"Do you think if we find out who is in charge, they might show some respect?" he asks about the tape. Life has seldom shown him much of that commodity. So he is not sure. "I do not want to fight anybody. There should be some justice. This is my art. This is my life and love..."

Rangabati, Rangabati... dear, please don't harass me... 

Friday, October 28, 2011

No More Dams Says Balangir, Bargarh and Subarnapur !

Courtesy:-Dailypioneer written by :- Sudarshan Chhotray

Caught between the dual targets of massive industrialisation and agricultural expansion through extending irrigation coverage to the farmlands, the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD Government has become the real target of people.

Despite its tall claim of covering 35 per cent of cultivable land under assured irrigation facilities, the ground realities are something different. Policy analysts have found only 25 per cent of the land in the State to be under irrigation. With 11 major rivers, 12 river basins, seven big dams, 10 agro-climatic zones, four geo- climatic regions, 480-km long coastline and average rainfall of 1, 500mm, the State is still a less developed agricultural region. Climate change has affected monsoon and uncertainty of rainfall has made lives of the farmers miserable.

Many attributed drought, food insecurity, starvation deaths, migration, and suicide of farmers and above all marginalisation to inadequate irrigation facility. The diversion of water for industrial houses meant for irrigation has raised many eyebrows. Similarly, the Government’s failure in flood management also has been criticized by political parties and experts. An affidavit filed by the Water Resources Department in the Odisha High Court on August 30 last has confirmed 18 industrial houses are lifting water from four such dams, including Hirakud. This and other related allegations have indeed fuelled many controversies over distribution of water. That’s the reason people feel all the projects have been designed and directed towards facilitating industrial needs than the needs of the common people.

Just a month back, drought had engulfed almost fifty per cent of the State and the news of farmers’ suicide was much in the news headlines. People of Western Odisha were up in arms against a hydro-power project proposed near Sindhol village in Subarnapur district. Though this plant was planned ostensibly to augment the energy needs of the State, in reality people in Western Odisha put up a brave front against the project, which forced it to put off the project for the time being. For them it was a conspiracy to facilitate another Hirakud like big dam for which they are suffering since 1950.

Aung Irrigation project: People of Paikmal area under Padampur Sub Division in Bargarh district are up against a dam project which has posed a grave threat to their life and livelihood. They are claiming their ancestral home, cultivable land and locally available natural resources would be lost if the project is undertaken. Not only these, it would also harm their existing social relationship, age- old tradition and practice.

The proposed dam at Pujharipalli at a distance of 15 km from Padampur, would irrigate about 30,000 hectares of cultivable land of both Bargarh and Balangir districts, which are known as drought prone areas. The project, which was started at the initial cost estimate of Rs 304.66 crore as per the 1999 Consumer Price Index, has now been escalated to Rs 500 crore. The project was sanctioned by Central Water Commission on September 20, 2000 and the environmental clearance was issued on December 6, 2007. The project has the components of a 7480 meter length earthen dam near Pujarharipalli with irrigation potential of 50 km in downstream. Total and full storage in the dam will affect 5100 hectares of area including 167 hectares of Chhattisgarh State.

“As our area is rich in natural resources and people are rich in agriculture despite erratic monsoon and scanty rainfall with less irrigation facility, we have gained self sufficiency in agriculture and a common farmer is getting more yield than expected. Similar is the situation for landless farmers those who never feel they are landless. Rather, they adopt shared cultivation system which brings more benefit for them and they have nothing to worry of forced migration,” says Amrit Lal Sahoo, a retired Revenue Inspector of Saeikela village.

For Jaganath Pradhan of Samalpuri village it is a do-or-die struggle, as he is losing at least Rs 4 lakh per annum from his 15 acre of cultivable land . Even Government agencies collect seeds from him. Jagannath manages to run his 14-member family lavishly without any other income source. For him loosing land for a proposed project will cost him dearly. He is all set for self immolation if the project is undertaken forcibly. The Government has planned the project without proper verification of local resources, alleged members of Pujharipalli Dam Pratirodh Committee, the organisation which has been spearheading the movement against the proposed project. Due to stiff resistance from affected villagers, the first public hearing was turned a battle field.

As things stand today, where the people of Paikamal area have been continuing their protest demonstrations against the construction of the proposed Aung Dam, local politicians are leaving no stone unturned to pacify people’s growing dissent. The affected village believes the decision for construction of a dam at Pujharipalli was political one as former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Painaik had already laid foundation stone for Aung Irrigation Project at Chirroli, said Pujharipalli Dam Partirodh committee secretary Netrananda Behera.

Interestingly, foundation stone laying for Pujharipalli Dam site was conducted during the Congress regime by former Chief Minister J B Patnaik during the 90s. Since then, people of the region have been protesting against the construction of the dam starting from the massive rally at Padampur in the year 1989. Then came the boycott of panchayat elections en-masse in the year 2002 in all the four gram panchayats namely Alkmaar, Sareipalli, Lokharkota and Jagadalpur. Not a single vote was cast in all the 32 affected villages spread over the four panchayats, says Bhandari Marei of Chardhapalli village. Of late, the committee has formed village level struggle committees in all the 32 affected villages to give a brave front in resisting Government’s possible attempt to construct the dam. According to the agitating villages of Lakhmara revealed the dam will not only cause harm to four high schools including a tribal residential high school, a junior college and a number of primary schools, it would also cause harm to a number of area and endangered animals, birds, some medicinal plants, profitable tress, fruit and crop varieties.

Significantly, the calculation made by forty years’ old Bharat Bag of Sareikela Village tells a different story. According to him he gets 30 bags of paddy from an acre of agriculture land which will cost around Rs 11, 250.00. Besides these, he earns from oilseeds and cereals. Bharat says it would be painful for any farmer in sacrificing such prosperous areas for the sake of a so called development project which will bring only devastation. The most shocking effect of the proposed dam is the continuing existence of the prolonged traumatic situations undergone by the people of the region who during the last couple of decades couldn’t make any large investments in housing and other social and economical engagements, argues Bhakta Bariahha of Chardhapalli village.

Suktel Irrigation Project: Chabbilal Gadatia is dejected as he found that he had nothing to do, but hand over his two acres of agriculture land to Government for the construction of the proposed Lower Suktel Dam. Chabbilal, with his five-member family has been earning his livelihood depending upon his two acres of fertile land. Chabbilal along with his fellow villagers of Kainthapalli under Loisingha block of Balangir district are up in arms against the Government which is all set to oust them from their land for the proposed dam.

Kainthapalli is among 29 villages which would be affected by the proposed dam. According to the 1996 survey, at least 15,380 people of 4160 families spread over 26 villages of Balangir district will be displaced. Out of them, 1222 families are tribal, 575 are Scheduled Caste and remaining 2363 belong to OBC. The dam has been initiated to irrigate more than 31,830 hectares of agriculture land spread over 189 villages of poverty stricken and drought prone Balangir and Subarnapur districts. Under the Central Government’s Long Team Action Plan for the drought-prone KBK region, the dam has been approved by the Planning Commission in 1999, with an estimated cost of Rs 217.13 crore in 1996, which is now escalated to the tune of Rs 1,041.81 crore. But due to strong resistance and boycott of the displaced persons, land survey and acquisition process at the proposed dam site of Magurabeda, situated 22 km away from Balangir town had been halted. Latest Government report says land acquisition in 23 villages has been almost completed and process is yet to start in remaining six villages. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while reviewing the progress on August 30 last this year has instructed the authorities to speed up the construction work as soon as possible. After completion, the project will irrigate 29,850 hectares of agriculture land in Balangir and 1,980 hectares in Subarnapur district. Two canals will be constructed in right and left side of the reservoir. “Since the last seven years we have been living under uncertain future and passing through psychological trauma, following the declaration of the dam,” the locals lamented.

Monday, October 24, 2011

KOSAL SAHITYA ACADEMY AWARDS

KOSAL SAHITYA SANSKRUTI ACADEMY announced its felicitations for contribution to Kosli language and literature for the year 2011 for different categories as follows:

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

1) Sri Atal Bihari Panda
2) Sri Kapileswar Prasad Mahapatra
3) Sri Shrikara Mishra

LANGUAGE & LITERATURE

1) Dr. Dolagobind Bishi, Titilagarh ( Essay)
2) Shri Bipin Acharya, Sambalpur (Poetry)
3) Professor Kesharanjan Pradhan, Padampur (Drama)
4) Shri Dhanpati Mohapatra, Bargarh (Novel)
5) Dr. Santosh Kumar Rath, Balangir ( Story )

The presentation ceremony will be held at Sonepur on 30th Oct. 2011.

For More Details Contact :-
Saket Sreebhushan Sahu
Editor, Beni
Email :- sampadakbeni@gmail.com

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

WODC - Rehabilitation centre for defeated BJD politians ?


Jaikosal.com breaking news :-

Today Padmini Sekhar Deo, W/o - Late. Bharatendra Sekher. Deo, Ex- MLA, At –. New. Palace,Sundergarh has been appointed as the chairperson of Western Orissa Development Council (WODC).

Questions are being raised over the relevance of the Western Orissa Development Council (WODC) which was formed to correct the regional imbalance existing in Orissa.

Rather than functioning to assist in the development of the backward Western Orissa districts, its core constituency, the council has now become a rehabilitation centre for defeated ruling party politicians and others whom the powers-that-be want to keep in good humour.

While funding and utilisation system of the Council have come under criticism, the lack of interest on the part of the State Government for further strengthening the organisation has also been disapproved by many. The Council was formed on July 3, 1999. But in 12 years of its existence, no noteworthy project has been implemented.

Three proposed medical colleges by the WODC at Bhawanipatna, Rourkela and Balangir have not progressed beyond the drawing board stage. “The WODC has failed to live up to its expectations during its 12 years of existence so far,” first chairman of the Council and senior Congress leader Narsingh Mishra said.
Funds are being spent on the recommendations of the ruling party MPs, MLAs and leaders, Mishra said and added there is no development agenda before the Council.

The Congress leader said as the Council was formed to bridge regional imbalance, a survey should be undertaken to identify very backward areas where projects should be taken up. But funds are being spent in relatively developed areas because of recommendations of some ruling party leader, MP or MLA, he lamented.

BJP Legislature Party Leader from� Patnagarh KV Singhdeo alleged that the Council had been turned into a platform for also-rans of the ruling party. Attempts are also being made to create a parallel power centre through the Council, he said.

Strongly disapproving the practice of nominating ruling party leaders as expert members, Singhdeo said this had defeated the very purpose of the body. Technical experts should be from a particular field and not politicians, he said.

Defeated BJD candidate in the 2009 Lok Sabha election Hameed Hussein, who is also a member of the Council, also maintained that the funding pattern needs to be changed. The Council should spend in the fields of agriculture and education without wasting money on small projects, he said and added a decision should be taken in this regard soon.

But the importance given to the WODC, or the lack of it, by the powers-that-be can be gauged from the fact that for the last two months the post of chairperson is lying vacant. Sources said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is yet to decide whether to nominate a politician, a bureaucrat or an expert to the post.

(News Source IBNLIVE.com)

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Memorandum for Inclusion of Kosli Language in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution

www.jaikosal.com requests all the people of KOSAL to whole-heatedly support this move .....

Koshal Discussion And Development Forum (KDDF) have created an online memorandum for the Inclusion of Kosli Language in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Here is the link...Click the below link and show your support to save our language by posting a comment (signature)..


To

Dr. Manmohan Singh, Honourable Prime Minister of India

cc

Smt. Partibha Patil, Honourable President of India

Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Honourable UPA Chairperson

Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Honourable Leader of Opposition

Mr. P. Chidambaram, Honourable Union Minister of Home Affairs

Mr. Kapil Sibal, Honourable Union Minister of Human Resource Development

Shri Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare, Honourable Governor of Odisha

Mr. Naveen Patnaik, Honourable Chief Minister of Odisha

Honorable Members of Parliament from Odisha

Esteemed Honourable Prime Minister, Dr. Singh,

In the past few years the central govt. has included different Indian languages in the 8th schedule of the Indian constitution by the recommendation of various committees. It shows prudence on the part of Indian government in being flexible in recognizing the complexity of linguistic diversity in India. In 2003, the 93rd Constitutional Amendment was passed which enabled the government to have a fresh look at the possibility of inclusion of other Indian languages in the 8th schedule. Consequently, four languages, viz. Bodo, Dogri, Santhali and Maithili were judged to be included in the 8th schedule. We the people of Western Odisha were hoping that Kosli be included as well because our situation is identical to that of Maithili as it is explained in the following sections of this memo. Therefore, we humbly request you to examine our request by the same yardstick used to include the four recent languages in the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution.

It is said that the right of a mother tongue is a basic cultural right of the people which link them with their economy, socio-cultural system and political right. UNESCO has recognized that the concept of language equality among all languages is important irrespective of whether the languages have a script or not. Furthermore, the Indian government is promoting the mother tongue based multilingual education to reduce the school drop-out rates and to enhance communication using a mother tongue.1 This is a good and praiseworthy initiative taken by the Indian government. In this regard, the Kosli language (also called Kosli-Sambalpuri, Sambalpuri) is the mother tongue of ten districts of western Orissa (Kosal region) viz. Balangir, Bargarh, Boudh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Sundargarh, and Athmallik subdivision.2 In addition, a large population of Raipur, Mahasamund and Raigarh districts of Chhattisgarh state also uses Kosli language as their mother tongue.2

The Kosli language and literature is vast as it is blessed with a group of dedicated writers. A large number of books are published regularly and available in the Kosli language. Epics like “Ramayana”, “Mahabharat” and “Meghduta” are translated into Kosli language.2 Kosli language has a rich literature in different areas viz. Architecture, Astrology, Mantra-Tantra-Yantra science, Medicine, Yoga, Music, Arts, Dance, Drama, Yoga, Philosophy, and Grammar.

Kosli dramas, songs, and dances are popular across the world. Kosli dramas are highly acclaimed and regularly staged at various places of India. For instance, a recent Kosli language play “Maau” is aiming to enter the Limca record book by becoming the biggest ever stage show of its kind in the world.2 In addition, the Kosli language cinema is attracting world wide attention. “Bukha (Hunger)” a Kosli language movie has won the Indian national award, an international jury award at the Gijón International Film Festival, Spain and was selected for World Rural Film Festival, Aurrilac, France.2 The All India Radio (viz. Sambalpur, Balangir, and Bhawanipatna) and television channels (viz. Nxatra news and OTV) are broadcasting their news and entertainment programs in Kosli language.

More than five registered newspapers and seventy magazines are available in Kosli language.2 Unfortunately Kosli language has no political and official support although there was a discussion in the Indian parliament to include Kosli language in the 8th Schedule of the Indian constitution.3 Recently the Orissa govt. has recommended the Ho language for its inclusion in the 8th schedule of the Indian constitution.4 This is a welcome step. Along this line, we sincerely hope that the Orissa govt. will recommend Kosli language for the inclusion in the 8th Schedule of the Indian constitution.

For the people of western Orissa it is not just a language but a way of life that propel progresses and harmony in the region. The inclusion of Kosli language in the 8th schedule of the Indian constitution will have following positive impacts on the people of western Orissa:

  • Kosli language as a mother tongue and medium of instruction:

Western Orissa area contains 40 to 50 % of the state’s population. The key to development of western Odisha is the Kosli language. Drop out rate in schools particularly in rural and Adivashi area can be ascribed to, among other variables, teaching in Odia language which is not used in day to day communication. It is as if learning through an alien language. Kosli is the dominant means of communication through out western Odisha. Though we have several tribal languages, all tribals have functional capability in Kosli not Odia. That is the main reason why KBK has been found literacy rate is so low. We also have large population of scheduled caste in the area who are similarly impacted. It has caused various problems viz. i) the overall marks of students from western Orissa are lower than the students of coastal Orissa and ii) many bright students of western Orissa fail again and again in both 10th and 10+2 examinations because of their poor knowledge in Odia language. Recognition of Kosli language will facilitate education among the kids of western Orissa in their mother tongue and solve the above mentioned problems.

  • Freedom of expression in legislative and social sphere:

In spite of aggressive Odianisation, population of western Orissa has retained Kosli language for day to day communication. In large population centers where people of other states, especially from Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bengal, Punjab, Gujarat and other North Indian area have come to work, they have opted Kosli instead of Odia because the accent of Kosli follows North Indian pattern. And when poor Koslis go out of their area to seek employment they choose to go to other Hindi speaking area such as Chhattisgarh, U.P, Bihar and Jharkhand instead of Odia speaking area in Odisha. All Kosli can be easily identified by their accent when they try to speak Odia. Elected representatives from western Orissa can not engage in debates in the State Assembly because of their poor knowledge in Odia language. Recognition of this language will facilitate communication in thelegislative and social sphere.

  • Research and development:

Dictionaries, grammar books, plays, novels, anthology of poems, granthavalis of major poets, Kosli panjikas, several books on history of Kosal (western Orissa), and biographies on Kosli heroes are already available without any financial help from the government. Recognition of Kosli language will avail grants directly from the central government. This will facilitate the research and future development of Kosli language.

  • Ease of governance:

Currently, notices are given in the villages of western Odisha in Odia; not very literates do not understand the full implications of these notices. Civil servants from other areas who do not even have rudimentary knowledge of Kosli language can not communicate with citizens, thus resulting in miscommunication. In fact, Orissa is among the minority of states which claims to have only one language. Out of 28 states, 15 have more than one official language. Out of 7 union territories, 6 have more than one recognized language. In a democracy, freedom of expression is a fundamental right of the citizen. Good governance requires efficient communication between the citizens and the government. In this context, inclusion of the Kosli language in the 8th Schedule of the Indian constitution will facilitate governance in western Orissa.

  • Kosli as a distinct language and its socio-cultural impact:

The linguistic characteristics of Kosli language are markedly different. Kosli language is a direct derivative of Sanskrit.5 Odia scholars have accepted it as a dialect of Odia language and Odia language as a member of Eastern Magadhi group of Indo-Aryan family. But genealogical analysis shows two different sources of origin of the two languages, that is, Odia and Kosli language. Odia is originated from the Magadhi Prakrit; whereas, Kosli language is originated from Ardha-Magadhi Prakrit.4 So there is remarkable difference between the two in the sphere of phonology, morphology, semantics and syntax.5 The researchers at the Sambalpur University, Odisha have shown that the Kosli is a distinct and old language.6

Kosli language is intimately connected to the distinct culture and heritage of western Odisha, quite distinct from Odia culture. The unique folk songs and dances blends neatly with rhythm and punctuation of Kosli language. Inclusion of Kosli language in the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution will promote the culture and heritage of western Orissa.

Keeping the above mentioned points into consideration we request you to recommend the inclusion of Kosli language in the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution.

Thanking you with best regards,

People of western Odisha and members of the Kosal Discussion and Development Forum (KDDF)

Acknowledgment: We thank the members of KDDF and other e-forums for suggestions. We are grateful to the people of western Odisha for constant support and encouragement.

References:

1.http://kddfonline.com/2011/07/31/mother-tongue-based-multilingual-education-kosli-language-as-a-medium-of-instruction-in-the-schools-of-western-odisha/
2. http://kddfonline.com/category/kosli-language-and-literature/
3. http://kddfonline.com/2009/10/23/parliament-debates-on-koshali-language/
4. http://www.orissasambad.com/news_article.php?id=60961
5. Kosli Bhasa Ra Sankhipta Parichay, Kosal Ratna Prayagdutta Joshi, pp 6, 7, 16, 17, Ed. Dr. Dolagobinda Bishi, 1991.
6. Peculiarities of Sambalpuri Language in Its Morphology; Dr. Ashok Kumar Dash, Surta, pp 35-38, Ed. Saket Sreebhushan Sahu, 2009.

Click here to download the Kosli language memorandum.

Submitted & Approved by

Members of Kosal Discussion and Development Forum (KDDF) & well wishers


Drafted by

Dr. Sanjib K Karmee

Department of Biotechnology

Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

E-mail:S.K.Karmee@tudelft.nl


Dr. Arjun Purohit

Canada

E-mail: apurohit1934@gmail.com


Mr. Saket Sahu

Editor, BENI, Bargarh, Odisha

E-mail: saket.sahu@gmail.com

Thursday, September 1, 2011

NUAKHAI JUHAR KOSALBASI


Galana kete bacchar hasi kheli kari....
Galana kete phul mahali gacche phuti kari !!!
Hele amar bhab thau sabu dine bhari...
E Nuakhai tihar asu anand ullas dhari....Maa Samlei tumar samku rakhi thau kule dhari !!!

NUAKHAI JUHAR BAD MANKU AAU SAN MANKE NUAKHAI RA BAHUT BAHUT BADHAI !

JAI MAA SAMLESWARI....JAI MAA PATNESWARI...JAI MAA MANIKESWARI.....JAI MAA SURESWARI....JAI MAA GHANTASINI....JAI MAA SEKHARBASINI...JAI MAA LANKESWARI....JAI MAA METAKANI.....JAI MAA KOSHALESWARI !!!!
JAI KOSAL .NUAKHAI JUHAR

Monday, August 15, 2011

FARMER SUICIDE CONTINUES IN KOSAL AS FAMILY STRUGGLES TO GET MONEY FOR LAST RITES

Courtesy :- Express Service

With drought looming, three suicide cases of farmers have shaken the community sending a grim reminder of the impending situation.
On Sunday, Dhananjaya Pradhan (35) of Sarla village in Bargarh district allegedly attempted suicide. He was rushed to the district headquarters hospital only to be declared brought dead.

A day later, another farmer, K Chakrabarty Rao (45) of Talpadar village in Dhankauda block of Sambalpur district consumed pesticide.
And on Tuesday, Upendra Rajhansa of Tumgaon village under Sohela police limits in Bargarh district was found hanging. These farmers seem to be caught in debt trap and harassed by private land sharks and ‘middlemen.’ Upendra, already burdened with loan, was waiting for� Government compensation for kharif crop loss as announced.

After his death, a cheque of `1,600 was handed over towards crop loss. His wife Santoshini, naib sarpanch of Garbhanga gram panchayat, said the family had availed of heavy loan. Upendra had taken a private loan of about `60,000, mortgaged gold and even sold a piece of land. Sohela Tehsildar Tanmaya Kumar Darwan visited the� family and handed over a cheque of `10,000 along with the crop loss compensation amount.

Dhananjaya, who died on Monday, was under severe pressure after being constantly harassed and assaulted by a money-lender. After his death, when angry villagers confronted the money-lender, he� agreed to pay `1 lakh to the family.

While no official visited the bereaved family, Bargarh Tehsildar Gautam Chaudhury said the Revenue Inspector has been directed to visit the village and submit a report. He cited his preoccupation with� Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyuti Karan Yojana for his inability to personally visit the village.

The third farmer, Rao, owned three acres of land and had taken another 20 acres on lease. But crop loss due to pest attack and untimely rain devastated him forcing him to sell his land. It is said he had availed of private loan of about `8 lakh and was under tremendous pressure.

Several farmers’ bodies have time and again attributed such suicides to denial of loan by banks. Private loan comes in handy with heavy interest and takes a toll on the poor farmers.

�Farmer leader Ashok Pradhan said Rao was a role model in the area and was hardworking. If the State Government does not act fast and change the system, such suicides will continue, he lamented.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hours after farmers Dhananjay Pradhan and Upendra Rajhansa ended their lives, their wives are looking for money to perform the last rites.

Both had taken their lives unable to repay the loans they had availed of.Dhananjay of Sarla village under Bargarh police limits, who was declared brought dead in Bargarh Government Hospital, is survived by his wife Sebati and two daughters Manisha (5) and Nibedita (2).

He had to shoulder the family burden from the age of 20 after his father expired. He was financially broken with a meagre land holding of 1.5 acres which led him to take the extreme step.

Now, all the responsibility has fallen on Sebati, who is unsure of the road ahead. She has no money to even conduct the last rites of her husband.
Upendra’s wife of Santoshini of Tumgaon village under Sohela police limits too is struggling to gather funds to perform his funeral rites.

The couple had married off their two daughters while the younger one Sunita is studying in Class VII. Son Birsa has dropped plans to join college as he has to shoulder the family burden.

After marrying off both daughters in two successive years, Upendra mortgaged the little property, comprising the ornaments of his wife and part of his 2.5 acres land. Upendra had taken a private loan of about Rs 60,000 and another Rs 25,000 against the mortgaged ornaments.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Balangir Tribal boy rings in international rugby glory

Courtesy :- TNN

The game of rugby may be as alien as international acclaim for the non-descript tribal hamlet of Bangomunda in Balangir district, but the village is celebrating the unbelievable success of teenager Dharamananda Bhoi nevertheless, who went on to clinch sporting glory as captain of the under-13 rugby team from Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) that won the seven-a-side tournament held at Menchester (England) recently, defeating five foreign teams.

However, the laurel may have come as little surprise for the precocious Dharamananda, who villagers say has always been dreaming big and showed a keen interest in sports right from childhood.

"As a child, Dharamananda was always seen playing Chhur (a local sport). He was also a very good football player and always showed leadership skills," said Jamanikanta Pradhan, a Badangomunda villager.

"Dharamananda showed great interest in the game from the beginning. He was the undisputed captain owing to his special and innovative techniques in games and managing the team mates," said KISS sports teacher Rudrakesh Jena. The Class X student is an invincible scrum-half in Rugby, Jena said, describing the boy as a child prodigy in sports.

KIIS team was the only under-13 team to represent India in the Manchester tournament, where it went on to clinch a one-sided win of 15-0. There were 10 players from KIIS in the team, out of which three were kept on stand-by. In the semi-final against South Africa, Dharamananda's skill was outstanding, Jena said. In the final match, Dharamananda and Alekh Murmu, who was placed as winger in the field, did the miracle of defeating Thailand at a score of 25-0.

"Playing scrum-half requires great skill. It is that zone of the field where a player needs maximum stamina and intelligence to hoodwink the opponent. And Dharamananda performed superbly," said Jena.

Dharamananda's father Nityananda owns an acre of land in their village and the family is mostly dependent on the pension of Dharama's grandmother after the demise of his grandfather, who was a school teacher.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

No unanimity on WODC headquarters

Courtesy:-Express News Service (TNIE)

The outgoing chairperson of the Western Orissa Development Council (WODC) Dr Niranjan Panda on Friday said there is lack of unanimity among the politicians from the area about the location of the council headquarters.

Addressing a news conference here, Panda said though he convened four meetings during his tenure to try and settle the issue, politicians from different Western Orissa districts differed. He, however, said the Council has no dearth of funds to take up development projects.

The budget of WODC has gone up to Rs 100 crore and it gets additional funds from the State Government for development of the KBK, he said.

Panda announced that perspective plan of Rs 300 crore for the next three years has been drawn up by the Council. This includes Rs 114 crore for irrigation, lift irrigation and rainwater management, Rs 13.5 crore for provision of drinking water, Rs 13.6 crore for electricity, Rs 45 crore for roads and communication, Rs 32 crore for health, Rs 60 crore for education, Rs 5 crore for Centre for Development Studies, Rs 9 crore for Agriculture Machinery Hiring Project and Rs 8 crore for agropolytechnic.

Stating that during the last five years several steps have been initiated to bridge the regional disparity, Panda said steps have been started for establishment of three medical colleges. He hoped that admission into the medical college at Jarring in Kalahandi district would start from the next academic year. Similarly, admission for the medical college at Rourkela, established by WODC, will also start from the next academic year. A decision on establishment of medical college at Balangir will be taken soon, he said.

Panda said steps have been initiated by the Council to improve health infrastructure in the area. Work for establishment of a nursing school at Sundargarh has already started. Funds have been sanctioned for establishment of diagnostic centres at Balangir, Deogarh, Sambalpur and Sonepur, he said.

It has been decided that funds will be provided for increasing the number of beds and cabins in Boudh and Deogarh district hospitals. Besides, 50-bed hospitals will be set up at ThuamulRampur in Kalahandi district, Koida in Sundargarh district and Chantipali in Jharsuguda district with private participation. An eye hospital will be set up by the WODC in partnership with Lepra India, he said and added the site for this will be identified soon.
Panda said steps have also been taken to improve infrastructure in the education sector. Assistance is also being given to private schools for construction of additional classrooms, laboratories, libraries and toilets, he said.

Watch Sambalpuri Video Songs Online

Welcome to KOSAL

JAI KOSHAL

"Aamar Sanskruti Aamar Gaurav"

Welcome to the land of culture "Koshal" . Koshal is the land of great warriors. The land of Maharaja's.The land of Maa Samalei, World famous sambalpuri saree , great teracotta works, land of tantrik Vidya, world famous Sambalpuri music and dance.

Koshal consists of ten beautiful districts..
Sambalpur,Balangir,Kalahandi,Sundergarh,Bargarh,Jharsuguda,Subarnapur,Boudh,Nuapada
and Deogarh.

The motto of this community is to bring all the young warriors of koshal to a common platform from where they can initiate the process to preserve the great Koshali culture and swear to free our motherland koshal from atrocities..

So friends lets join hand and do something extraordinary to create a separate identity of us across the globe and create a separate koshal state,full of prosperity and impartiality.

We Consider Kosali language as the mother of Oriya language, the origin of kosali language was found by the historians from Subarnapur in Stambheswari inscription of 12th century A.D. The Kosali language is spoken by about 2 crores of people in the entire KBK belt and Western Orissa and part of A.P., M.P., Chhatisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. It is a matter of regret that the Government of Orissa has not taken any interest to improve the standard of Kosali (Sambalpuri) language.


KOSAL COMMUNITY STRONGLY DEMANDS THAT THE KOSALI(SAMBALPURI) LANGUAGE SHOULD IMMEDIATELY BE ENLISTED IN THE 8TH SCHEDULE OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA


So start sharing your views on Koshal.....