Odisha: Bande Utkala Janani to be part of school syllabus
BHUBANESWAR: Months after Bande Utkala Janani was accorded state song status, the government on Friday approved a proposal to include it in the syllabus for classes IX and X in government-run schools across Odisha from the next academic year.
The state school and mass education department issued a notification in this regard following chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s approval.
Regarding the decision, the chief minister said including the immortal song written by literary doyen Kantakabi Laxmikanta Mohapatra and glorifying Mother Utkala will imbibe Odia pride and patriotism among students and help them to know about the glory and rich culture of the state.
Sources said the school and mass education department has asked the state council of education research and training (SCERT) to include the song from the next academic year.
“While according the state song status to Bande Utkala Janani, the cabinet has directed the school and mass education department to include it in the school syllabus. The decision has been taken accordingly. The syllabus committee of the SCERT will decide the exact portion of the song to be included in the syllabus,” said a senior government official.
The song was sung for the first time in 1912 by Utkal Sammilani during its movement for the creation of a separate Odisha province. It is also sung at the end of every assembly session since November 7, 1994, as per a decision taken during the tenure of Biju Patnaik as chief minister.
On May 30, Odisha came to a standstill at 5:30 pm as people from all sections sang Bande Utkala Janani following an appeal from the chief minister as a gesture of solidarity towards Covid warriors and to show that all are together in the fight against the pandemic. Odias staying outside the state as well as those abroad also joined on the occasion.
While according state song status on June 7, it was decided that the song will now be played or recited at various government functions, assembly sessions and other government events without any instruments. The song can also be played or sung with musical instruments in schools, colleges, public meetings and different cultural events.