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Glorious History About
Orissa ... .. .
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 The History of Orissa
spans over 3,500 years and it is atypical from the history of the northern plains
in many ways.
The word Oriya is an
anglicised version of Odia which itself is a modern name for the Odra or Udra tribes
that inhabited the central belt of modern Orissa.
In ancient times, Orissa
was known as Kalinga
Some parts of Southern
and South Eastern Asia such as Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Java, Sumatra, Bali, Vietnam
and Thailand were colonized by people from Orissa
A major turning point
in world history took place around 261 B.C. when the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, invaded
Kalinga, which is famously known as Kalinga war.
In the early past of
the 1 st century B.C. Kalinga became independent under the Chedi Chief Mahameghavana.
In 1803, the British
under the British East India Company occupied Orissa after the Second Anglo-Maratha
War. In 1823, Orissa was divided into the three districts of Cuttack, Balasore and
Puri, and a number of native tributary states.
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The History of Orissa spans over 3,500 years and it is atypical from the history
of the northern plains in many ways. Many of the common generalizations that are
made about Indian history doesn't apply to the Oriya region. The word Oriya is an
anglicised version of Odia which itself is a modern name for the Odra or Udra tribes
that inhabited the central belt of modern Orissa. Orissa has been the home of the
Kalinga, Utkal and Kosal tribes that played a particularly prominent role in the
region's history and one of the earliest references to the ancient Kalingas appears
in the writings of Vedic chroniclers. In the 6th century, Vedic Sutrakara Baudhayana
mentions Kalinga as being beyond the vedic fold, indicating that brahminical influences
had not yet touched the land. Unlike some other parts of India, tribal customs and
traditions played a significant role in shaping political structures and cultural
practices right up to the 15th century when brahminical influences triumphed over
competing traditions and caste differentiation began to inhibit social mobility
and erode what had survived of the ancient republican tradition.
In ancient times, Orissa was known as Kalinga. It was a major seafaring nation that
controlled and traded with most of the sea routes in the Bay of Bengal. For several
centuries, a substantial part of South Asia & Southeast Asia was under its cultural
influence. The temple at Angkor Wat is a fine example of Orissan-influenced Indian
architecture. Some parts of Southern and South Eastern Asia such as Sri Lanka, Cambodia,
Java, Sumatra, Bali, Vietnam and Thailand were colonized by people from Orissa.
In Malaysia, Indians are still referred as Klings because of this. Many illustrious
Sri Lankan kings such as Nisanka Malla and Parakarama Bahu claim Kalinga origin.
The king who destroyed the Sinhalese Buddhist control of Northern Sri Lanka and
established a Hindu Kingdom in Jaffna was known as Kalinga Magha. One theory holds
that the name of the country "Siam" for Thailand is derived from Oriya/Sanskrit
Shyamadesha. The Angkor Wat in Cambodia is Orissan, with local variations. Bali
in Indonesia still retains its Orissan-influenced Hindu heritage.
Mahapadmananda of Nanda Dynasty who ascended the throne of Magadha in 362 B. C.
conquered and instituted Kalinga to his extensive empire. Although Kalinga lost
her independence, she became economically prosperous under the Nanda rule. Mahapadmananda
undertook irrigation projects to eradicate famine condition in Kalinga. The pre-Mauryan
black polished potteries and punch-marked coins having four symbols found in plenty
from Asurgarh in Kalahandi district and Sonapur in Bolangir district indicate the
flourishing economic condition during the time of the Nanda rule.
After Mahapadmananda his eight sons ruled one after the other and the last Nanda
king was overthrown by Chandragupta Maurya who found the Maurya empire in Magadha.
During the time of Chandragupta’s rebellion against the last Nanda king, Kalinga
declared herself independent and tried to build her strength as an overseas power.
A major turning point in world history took place around 261 B.C. when the Mauryan
emperor Ashoka, invaded Kalinga, which is famously known as Kalinga war. Ashoka's
military campaign against Kalinga was one of the bloodiest in Mauryan history on
account of the fearless and heroic resistance offered by the people of Kalinga to
the mighty armies of the expanding Mauryan empire. Though Ashoka succeeded in occupying
Kalinga but he could not the bear the horrendous slaughter caused by the war and
therefore took up the path of non-violence and become the follower of Buddhism.
Later on, Asoka was instrumental in spreading Buddhist philosophy all over Asia.
Perhaps on the account of Kalinga's unexpected bravery, emperor Ashoka was compelled
to issue two edicts specifically calling for a just and benign administration in
Kalinga. Kalinga became one of the administrative provisions in the empire of Magadha
with headquarters of a Kumara (Viceroy) located at Tosali. The second headquarters
was at Samapa where a high executive officer called Rajavachanika was stationed.
Tosali was also the headquarters of the highest judiciary authority of the province.
Asoka aimed at a benevolent administration with a well organized bureaucracy and
vigorously worked for the consolidation of the Maurya rule in the newly conquered
province. Buddhism spared over Kalinga under his patronage and became the State
religion while the art of stone masonry developed to a great extent. Edicts were
engraved on the Dhauli and Jaugada rocks to inculcate his administration and religious
principles to the people. Asoka died in 232 B.C. and the Maurya empire lasted up
to 185 B.C.
In the early past of the 1 st century B.C. Kalinga became independent under the
Chedi Chief Mahameghavana. The third ruler of this dynasty was Kharavela who flourished
during the second half of the 1 st century B.C. The Hatigumpha inscription in Udayagiri
near Bhubaneswar furnishes detailed accounts about the life and activities of Kharavela
from his boyhood to his 13th reigning year.
In 1803, the British under the British East India Company occupied Orissa after
the Second Anglo-Maratha War. In 1823, Orissa was divided into the three districts
of Cuttack, Balasore and Puri, and a number of native tributary states. Orissa was
administed as part of the Bengal Presidency. Following famine and floods in 1866,
large scale irrigation projects were undertaken in the last half of the 19th century.
The coastal section was separated from Bengal and made into the Province of Bihar
and Orissa in 1912, in response to local agitation for a separate state for Oriya-speaking
peoples. In 1936, Bihar and Orissa separated into separate provinces.
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