The demand of separate Koshal state is ongoing since a long time. The struggle for recognization of the language is also going on. But a conflict has surfaced regarding naming of the language. A few organizations of Sambalpur are arguing that the language of western Odisha should be named as Sambalpuri. Now many people and organizations of Balangir have reacted to it.
Recently renowned poet Sri Haldhar Nag was awarded with Padma Sri and he is now famous throughout the country. After getting the Padma award the chief minister felicitated him at Bhubaneswar and declared “Haldhar Koshali Language and Research Centre” after his name on April 7th. After getting this news the larger part of western Odisha were delighted whereas a few organization and people of Sambalpur town were not happy. In a meeting they stated that Koshali name is not acceptable. The people present in the meeting argue to name the language of westrn Odisha as Sambalpuri. Although a few people in the meeting express to keep both the terms jointly as ‘Koshali/Sambalpuri’.
In the meeting held at Balangir, a speaker says that an organization of Ghess has pressurized Padmashri Haldhar Nag to sign the letter addressing the chief minister to change the name of the declared organization. The Balangir Lekhak Parishad has condemned it. The Koshali Lekhak Parishad has also expressed the same sentiment with the Balangiar Lekhak Parishad. Madhusudan Nayak of Koshali lekhak Parishad says that the language of eastern Odisha is Odia not Katki (of Cuttack). When separate state movement is actively going so name of the language cannot be named after a particular town or a district.
In another meeting at Gandhi Bhawan, Balangir organized by Netaji Sangram Parishad, the same sentiment has evoked by the public and the speakers. In the meeting the speakers have condemned the argument regarding naming of language. They have supported the name Koshali for Koshal. The meeting presided by Laxminarayan Pattnaik has resolute to take strong action against the organization and person who have pressurized Padmashri Haldhar Nag.
Khadial Nagarik Manch has also come forward with a press meet to support Koshali name of the language of western Odisha. KNM has rallied on behind organizations of Balangir. Irffan Mohmmed of KNM opposed the term Sambalpuri for the name of the language of WO. Surjit Singh Maharatha says, Sambalpuri will confine it to Sambalpur district. But Koshali will unite all the 11 districts of western Odisha.
