In a significant step towards preserving linguistic and cultural authenticity, a high-level expert committee headed by Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. Pratibha Ray has recommended corrections to the English spellings of more than 55 places across Odisha.
The Revenue Department has formally communicated the committee’s suggestions to the Odia Language Foundation, paving the way for official changes that aim to align English spellings more closely with original Odia pronunciation, historical context, and cultural roots.
The committee, formed by the state government specifically to review and correct misleading or inaccurate English spellings of towns, blocks, tehsils, and urban areas, thoroughly examined public suggestions and recommendations from people’s representatives.
The second meeting of this high-powered panel finalised proposals for a large number of locations.
Key Recommended Changes
Already Proposed Names Confirmed:
- Junagarh (Kalahandi) → Junagada
- Kandhamal district → Kandhamala
- Bonaigarh (Sundargarh) → Banaigada
Major New Recommendations:
- Nimapara (Puri) → Nimapada
- Umerkote (Nabarangpur) → Umarkot
- Boudhgarh (Boudh) → Boudhagada
- Rourkela (Sundargarh) → Raurkela
- Talcher (Angul) → Talacher
- Soro (Balasore) → Sora
- Cuttack district → Kataka
- Salepur → Salepur
- Baramba → Badamba
- Athagarh → Athagada
- Khordha → Khordha
- Bolgarh → Bolagada
- Banapur → Banapur
- Jatni → Jatani
- Berhampur (Ganjam) → Brahmapur
- Hinjilicut → Hinjilikatu
- Aska → Asika
- Sorada → Sorada
- Dasharathpur (Jajpur) → Dasharathpur
- Dharmasala → Dharmashala
- Kendrapara → Kendrapada
- Aali → Aali
- Mahakalapada → Mahakalapada
- Angul → Anugola
- Pallahara → Palalahada
- Balangir → Balangir
- Bangomunda → Bangomunda
- Balasore → Baleshwar
- Nilgiri → Nilagiri
- Deogarh → Debagada
- Riamal → Riamal
- Dharamgarh → Dharmagada
- Jayapatna → Jayapatana
- Lanjigarh → Lanjigada
- Bhawanipatna → Bhabanipatana
- Kendujhar → Kendujhar
- Barbil → Badabil
- Kendujhargarh → Kendujhargada
These corrections are expected to bring English renderings closer to how the names are pronounced in Odia, reducing long-standing inconsistencies that have often confused outsiders and diluted the state’s linguistic identity.
The initiative has been welcomed by many as a long-overdue effort to honour Odisha’s rich heritage. Once officially notified, the new spellings will be implemented across government records, maps, signboards, and official documents.
Dr. Pratibha Ray’s committee has once again demonstrated that language is not just a tool of communication but a carrier of culture and history. With these recommendations, Odisha is set to take another proud step in preserving its unique identity in the modern era.
