Bande Utkala Janani

This article is about the poem. For the 2008 film, see Bande Utkala Janani (film).

ବନ୍ଦେ ଉତ୍କଳ ଜନନୀ

English: I Adore Thee, O Mother Utkala!
Bande Utkala Janani
Emblem of Odisha
State song of Odisha
Lyrics	Laxmikanta Mohapatra, 1912
Music	Laxmikanta Mohapatra
Adopted	2020

Bande Utkala Janani is an Odia patriotic poem written by Laxmikanta Mohapatra in 1912. Odisha became the first state in British India to be formed on linguistic basis on 1 April 1936. The Odisha Cabinet on 7 June 2020, accorded the poem the state anthem status.

It was a long standing demand of people of the State to accord state song status to this poem which has been passed by the State cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik after the Odias across the globe had come together on the clarion of Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik to sing Bande Utkala Janani on 5:30 pm of May 30 to boost the morale of frontline workers or COVID-19 warriors tackling the coronavirus outbreak.

The poem envisages a Utkala who maintains her self-respect and dignity from a position of confidence and strength rather than insecurity and fear. This movement for a separate province also gathered momentum in Odisha. The Utkal Sammilani (a federation of Odias) was leading this movement. This influenced the poet Laxmikanta Mohapatra, who was then young and energetic. He started writing Bande Utkala Janani (Glory To The Mother Utkala!) and some other fiery songs with a patriotic motive. Well, known national poet of Odisha Banchhanidhi Mohanty was also a good singer. He used to sing Laxmikanta's patriotic songs throughout Odisha and inspired everyone. Once Rabindra Nath Tagore wrote in one of his essays i.e. "A Vision of India's History" that 'the history of India has been the history of a struggle between the mechanical spirit of conformity in social organization and the creative spirit of man which seeks freedom and love in self-expression' justifies Laxmikanta as a true patriotic poet.Template:Or-inline

This song was first sung at the Utkal Sammilani's Conference at Balasore in 1912, This song was used as a weapon by the Utkal Sammilani to emancipate Odisha. In a meeting at Bhadrak, where the poet Mohapatra was felicitated, the then young leader of Odisha Harekrushna Mahtab admitted that the poet Laxmikanta's patriotic songs have inspired him a lot. In the past, outsiders like Mughals and Britishers ruled Odisha and its geographical boundaries changed from time to time accordingly.

The State Government's decision to stand up to pay respect when the song is played has been praised. Therefore, it was made compulsory at the end of any Odisha Legislative Assembly Session and in the beginning of school prayer in State Govt. schools in Odisha during the 1990s.

Poem/Lyrics

The lyrics:

Odia	Transliteration	English
ବନ୍ଦେ ଉତ୍କଳ ଜନନୀ ଚାରୁ ହାସମୟୀ ଚାରୁ ଭାଷମୟୀ, ଜନନୀ, ଜନନୀ, ଜନନୀ । ପୂତ-ପୟୋଧି-ବିଧୌତ-ଶରୀରା, ତାଳତମାଳ-ସୁଶୋଭିତ-ତୀରା, ଶୁଭ୍ରତଟିନୀକୂଳ-ଶୀକର-ସମୀରା ଜନନୀ, ଜନନୀ, ଜନନୀ ।। ଘନ ବନଭୂମି ରାଜିତ ଅଙ୍ଗେ, ନୀଳ ଭୂଧରମାଳା ସାଜେ ତରଙ୍ଗେ, କଳ କଳ ମୁଖରିତ ଚାରୁ ବିହଙ୍ଗେ ଜନନୀ, ଜନନୀ, ଜନନୀ ।। ସୁନ୍ଦରଶାଳି-ସୁଶୋଭିତ-କ୍ଷେତ୍ରା, ଜ୍ଞାନବିଜ୍ଞାନ-ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶିତ-ନେତ୍ରା, ଯୋଗୀଋଷିଗଣ-ଉଟଜ-ପବିତ୍ରା ଜନନୀ, ଜନନୀ, ଜନନୀ ।। ସୁନ୍ଦର ମନ୍ଦିର ମଣ୍ଡିତ-ଦେଶା, ଚାରୁକଳାବଳି-ଶୋଭିତ-ବେଶା, ପୁଣ୍ୟ ତୀର୍ଥଚୟ-ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ-ପ୍ରଦେଶା ଜନନୀ, ଜନନୀ, ଜନନୀ ।। ଉତ୍କଳ ସୁରବର-ଦର୍ପିତ-ଗେହା, ଅରିକୁଳ-ଶୋଣିତ-ଚର୍ଚ୍ଚିତ-ଦେହା, ବିଶ୍ୱଭୂମଣ୍ଡଳ-କୃତବର-ସ୍ନେହା ଜନନୀ, ଜନନୀ, ଜନନୀ ।। କବିକୁଳମୌଳି ସୁନନ୍ଦନ-ବନ୍ଦ୍ୟା, ଭୁବନବିଘୋଷିତ-କୀର୍ତ୍ତିଅନିନ୍ଦ୍ୟା, ଧନ୍ୟେ, ପୁଣ୍ୟେ, ଚିରଶରଣ୍ୟେ ଜନନୀ, ଜନନୀ, ଜନନୀ ।।	Bande utkaḷa jananī Cāru hāsamayī cāru bhāṣamayī, Jananī, jananī, jananī ! Pūta-payodhi-bidhauta-śarīrā, Tāḷatamāḷa-suśobhita-tīrā, Śubhrataṭinīkūḷa-śīkara-samīrā Jananī, jananī, jananī ! Ghana banabhūmi rājita aṅge, Nīḷa bhūdharamāḷā sāje taraṅge, Kaḷa kaḷa mukharita cāru bihaṅge Jananī, jananī, jananī ! Sundaraśāḷi-suśobhita-kṣetrā, Jñānabijñāna-pradarśita-netrā, Ẏogīr̥ṣigaṇa-uṭaja-pabitrā Jananī, jananī, jananī ! Sundara mandira maṇḍita-deśā, Cārukaḷābaḷi-śobhita-beśā, Puṇya tīrthacaya-pūrṇṇa-pradeśā Jananī, jananī, jananī ! Utkaḷa surabara-darpita-gehā, Arikuḷa-śoṇita-carccita-dehā, Biśwabhūmaṇḍaḷa-kr̥tabara-snehā Jananī, jananī, jananī ! Kabikuḷamauḷi sunandana-bandyā, Bhubanabighoṣita-kīrttianindyā, Dhanye, puṇye ciraśaraṇye Jananī, jananī, jananī !	I adore Thee, O Mother Utkala! How loving are thy smile and voice! O Mother! Mother! Mother! Bath’d art Thou by the sacred Sea, Thy shores adorned with trees tall and green, Balmy breeze blowing by beauteous streams, O Mother! Mother! Mother! Thy body bedeck’d with dense woodlands, Arrayed with verdant hills plaited like waves, Thy sky ringing with choirs of singing birds, O Mother! Mother! Mother! How charming are Thy rich fields of paddy! Thou art Eye to Erudition enow, Sacred Abode to saints and seers, O Mother! Mother! Mother! Thy land bejewelled with splendid shrines, Richly dress'd art Thou in varied arts, Thy limbs studded with sacred sites, O Mother! Mother! Mother! Thou Home to the valiant heroes of Utkala, Thy frame crimsoned with enemies' blood, Prime Darling of the whole universe, O Mother! Mother! Mother! Greeted by Thy great sons, the crowning bards, Thy untarnished glory proclaimed all around, Blessed art Thou, the Holy, the Unfalling Abode! O Mother! Mother! Mother!

See also

• List of Indian state songs

External links

• Bande Utkala Janan