The Dhauli Books has published a book entitled ‘Bande Utkal Janani: Atita O Bartaman’ consisting of 25 chapters with detailed studies about the State anthem of Odisha.
The song was written by Kantakabi Lakshmikanta Mahapatra (1888-1953) and was first sung at the 9th session of the Utkal Union Conference at Puri in 1913.
Dr Santosh Kumar Mohanty, a young scholar of Odisha, working in the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysuru, Karnataka, has written the well-researched book on the poem. The book has been published by author Manu Dash of the Dhauli Books, Bhubaneswar.
The book comprises collections of data from various sources like Government proceedings, letters, old books and magazines, proceedings of the Utkal Union Conferences, ‘Utkal Dipika’, ‘Sambulpur Patriot’ and others. The combination of a total 111 facsimiles/images enriches the importance of the book.
It also features patriotic songs sung at the Utkal Union Conferences and the discussion filled with new data on the subject of inspiration to form the Utkal Union Conference. Prominent scholars, including Prof Kishore Kumar Basa, Dr Natabar Satapathy, Kamalakanta Mohapatra, Debendra Kumar Dash, Prof Jatindra Kumar Nayak and Dr Lalatendu Das Mohapatra, have underlined the importance of the book in their views.
This is the first and authentic research book on the State anthem.