Legacy of Rajarshi Vikram Dev Celebrated for His Immense Contribution to Odia Language and Literary Heritage

Jeypore, April 08:: The formation of Odisha as a separate province in 1936 on a linguistic basis was a victory for the Odia language. This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and sacrifice of great leaders like the Maharaja of Jeypore, Vikram Dev Varma. His contribution to this movement was extremely significant. Through the Utkal Sammilani, he made tireless efforts for the cause of the Odia language.
At that time, there were attempts to suppress the Odia language and give prominence to Bengali and Hindi. In such a situation, in 1903, under the leadership of Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das, the Utkal Sammilani was formed. It initiated a movement to unite all Odia-speaking regions and demand the formation of a separate province.
Writer and researcher Paresh Rath stated that Maharaja Vikram Dev Varma of Jeypore played a crucial role in this movement. He was a lifelong member of the Utkal Sammilani and presided over its 10th session held at Paralakhemundi in 1914. Under his leadership, the Utkal Sammilani emerged as a symbol of unity and freedom for the Odia language. With the support of leaders like Madhusudan Das, Gopabandhu Das, and Krushna Chandra Gajapati, he strengthened this movement significantly.