Bande Utkala Janani, does not evoke an “Odisha” feeling says, Dr Arjun Purohit. Reluctantly I am commenting on the topic in question. Tagore knew about the assertion in press that Jana Gana Mana was written for George V in 1911 yet he commented disassociating with it in 1939. Why did he wait more than a quarter of a century? In 1911, even Indian National Congress did not have independent India as its vision. Tagore was not known to be a patriot in his early days of prominence as has been exemplified in the debates between Gandhi and him. Albeit, there was gradual transformation in his psyche as the independence struggle was more intensified, and independence of India became more probable than mere possible. Poets are great wordsmiths, and can stir feelings and emotions of different kinds always depending on contexts. To ascribe political vision and ideology to them is neither necessary nor fair. Jana Mana Gana is extremely beautifully composed piece of poetry, but I would vote for Bande Mataram. I have similar qualms about Odishan anthem Bande Utkala Janani. Just as Assamese protest against Jana Gana Mana for non-inclusion of their region, Koshalis do not feel enthused about Bande Utkala Janani, which I am afraid is too regional in outlook. It simply does not evoke an “Odisha” feeling.
Have we got a parallel to Tagore in Odisha? It is Gangadhar Meher. If you look at his anthology, you will find great loyalistic poems extolling the majesty of Queen Victoria, but in later years he wrote poems sympathetic to independence movements. Prompted by Radhanath Roy and Nandakishor Bal, he was writing on Odia nationalism and status of Odia as mother tongue. I wonder what he would be championing if he would be alive today now that Koshali movement is gaining strength. Your guess is as good as mine!
