The Utkal Divas was celebrated by the deaf and dumb students of the Satyabhama Devi College for Hearing Impaired here on Saturday. Dabugaon MlA Bhajaman Majhi and Bhubaneswar (North) MlA Priyadarshi Mishra attended the function and apprised the students about the importance of Utkal Divas.
College lecturer Sibashis Acharya translated the speech of MlAs Majhi and Mishra and informed the students in sign language. Satyabhama Welfare Trust managing trustee Niroja laksmi Mishra said In 1865 Baleswar king Shymananda Dey and Bichitrananda Das had submitted a memorandum to the then British Governor for formation of separate Odisha State. But the administration did not accept the proposal.
However, in 1882, the Utkal Sabha was formed under the leadership of Madhusudan Das and due to efforts of many other leaders on April 1, 1936 Odisha become a separate State, said Mahapatra. On the occasion, the students presented various cultural programmes. lecturer Bhagyalakhmi Kanungo offered a vote of thanks.