Odisha to correct anglicised place names, restore original Odia identity

Bhubaneswar(By Abhishek Mohanty): In a significant move aimed at preserving linguistic heritage, the Government of Odisha has begun the process of restoring the original Odia names of places that are currently recorded in distorted English forms.

The Revenue and Disaster Management Department has directed all District Collectors to identify such discrepancies and submit detailed proposals for correction. The initiative seeks to address long-standing spelling alterations introduced during the colonial period, which officials say have diluted the authentic cultural and linguistic identity of the state.

The proposed changes will apply to districts, district headquarters, sub-divisions, blocks and tehsils where official English spellings do not accurately reflect the original Odia names.

Officials cited the example of “Ali” tehsil, which is officially written as “AUL” in English — a spelling that reportedly originated during British rule due to pronunciation challenges.

The department has stressed the importance of rectifying such anomalies to ensure accuracy in official records.

Reports had earlier been sought from all districts, with responses received from 13 districts so far.

Feedback was also gathered from public representatives, including MLAs and MPs, as well as from citizens. 

Additional suggestions have since been submitted.
District authorities have now been asked to re-examine their earlier submissions and forward updated reports along with new recommendations within seven days. 

A consolidated proposal will be prepared and placed before the state government for further action.