HAMPTON COURT PALACE ( BY LOKANATH MISHRA)

 Hampton Court Palace: ( by Lokanath Mishra) Visited the Hampton Court Palace which is located in the bank of river Themes, A308, East Molesey KT8 9AU England during the summer ( July, 2024) King of United Kingdom, King Charles III has multiple official residences in the United Kingdom, including Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh: Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch since 1837, and the administrative headquarters of the monarch. The palace has 775 rooms, including 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, and 92 offices. The State Rooms are open to visitors every summer. King Charles is living permanently at Buckingham Palace after the Queen's passing, leaving behind Clarence House, which was his main residence for many years. Windsor Castle Home to many people, including the Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle, the Dean of Windsor, and the Military Knights of Windsor. Clarence House Located near St. James's Palace in London, this white building was King Charles' home as a child and has been his main residence since 2003. Many royals use the palace as their London base, including Princess Anne and Princess Alexandra. Highgrove House: Located in Gloucestershire, this country house was purchased by King Charles in 1980. It features eco-friendly features. Before Queen Victoria moved into Buckingham Palace in 1837, the British monarch lived in St James's Palace, which was built by Henry VIII in the 1530s. The palace became the official home of the monarch after Whitehall Palace burned down in 1698. St James's Palace is still the official residence of the Sovereign and is known as the Royal Court, or the "Court of St James's". Many British monarchs had stayed at Hampton Court Palace, including Henry VIII, William III and Mary II, and Queen Anne: Henry VIII Henry VIII's most famous residence, Hampton Court Palace was a symbol of his power and magnificence. The palace was built to be a place of celebration, pleasure, and ostentatious display, and was home to Henry's state and private apartments, as well as the apartments of his queens. All of Henry's queens stayed at the palace, and in 1537, Jane Seymour gave birth to Edward VI in her apartments. In the late 1600s, William III and Mary II moved into the palace and commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to design a baroque palace between 1689 and 1700. They also created many of the palace's gardens, including the Great Fountain Garden and the Privy Garden. Queen Anne's son, William, Duke of Gloucester, was born at Hampton Court Palace in 1689. After Queen Anne's death in 1714, her successor, George I, and his son, George II, were the last monarchs to live at the palace. During their time there, George I commissioned six rooms to be designed by John Vanbrugh in 1717, and George II and his wife, Caroline of Ansbach, commissioned William Kent to design new furnishings and decor, including the Queen's Staircase and the Cumberland Suite. By 1737, George II no longer wanted to use Hampton Court as a royal palace. It was quickly filled with grace and favour residents. Many of them were aristocratic widows in straitened circumstances, who were offered free accommodation in return for their husbands’ services to the monarch. The various apartments, although extremely grand, not always the most comfortable places to live. Residents regularly complained that the palace was 'perishingly cold' and damp, and some had no access to hot water. In 1838, Queen Victoria ordered the gates of Hampton Court Palace be 'thrown open to all her subjects' as an early act of generosity. Visitors flocked to enjoy the stunning palace architecture, get lost in the Maze and relax in the beautiful gardens. By 1881, over ten million visitors had been recorded, a huge number for the time. Hampton Court Palace was one of the few attractions open on a Sunday, the only day working people had to visit. Visitors arrived by every possible means: from boat to public coach. Their journeys were made easier by the railways arriving at Hampton Court in 1849. However, this sudden rush was not altogether welcomed by the grace and favour residents who had previously enjoyed exclusive rights to the palace gardens. They complained that the gardens became ‘hell on earth, the people come intoxicated and the scenes in the gardens on the Lord’s day are beyond description’. Despite the complaints, the number of visitors rose steadily year on year. The public were eager for novelty, and applauded the gardeners’ effort to put the palace gardens in the forefront of fashion. Patriotic displays of mass bedding celebrated the coronation of George V in 1911, for example. The palace is still a magnet for visitors from all over the world. One of the newest attractions for families is the Tudor-inspired Magic Garden, which was opened in 2016 by the Duchess of Cambridge. The Great Hall, looking up towards the hammerbeam roof. The roof was designed by King Henry VIII's Master Carpenter, James Nedeham. Originally it would have been painted with blue, red and gold. The Great Hall built by King Henry VIII replaces a smaller hall on the same site. The Hall is an entranceway to the King’s state apartments and was a communal dining room. Here up to 600 members of the court would eat in two sittings, twice daily. The Indian Army soldiers encamped at Hampton Court Palace in the early 20th century. During the first half of the 20th century, soldiers from the Indian Army camped in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace on a number of occasions. They were invited to join the coronation celebrations of Edward VII (1902), George V (1911) and George VI (1937), as well as the First World War peace parades in 1919. In 1919, almost 1,800 Indian Army officers, soldiers and civilian workers stayed in a camp specially created to house them during their stay. At the time, this was one of the largest gatherings of people from India and South Asia ever assembled in Britain. In late July 1919 one of the most extraordinary but forgotten visits to Hampton Court took place, when a contingent of nearly 1800 troops from the Indian Army, including their British and Indian officers, marched through the palace gates and out onto the golf course on Home Park, where they camped for the next two months. They returned to a shattered Europe by ship from Mumbai (then known as Bombay) months after the armistice that ended the First World War, to join in the national Peace Celebrations with soldiers from around the British Empire who had fought alongside each other. The Indian Army troops were representatives of the more than 500,000 who fought in the war, from the Western Front in France and Belgium, to the Middle East and Far East. When world war broke out in 1914 there was a reluctance by the British to allow Indian soldiers to fight alongside white troops, but this was soon abandoned as the relatively small British Army and its allies struggled against overwhelming German forces. "The Indian Expeditionary Force arrived in the nick of time and saved the British soldiers “ said Lord Curzon, former Viceroy of India, 1917. "Do not think this is war. This is not war. It is the ending of the world. This is just such a war as was related in the Mahabharata about our forefathers “ said one wounded Rajput army officer to a relative in India on 29 January 1915. The peace contingent made up probably the largest movement of people from the Indian subcontinent to Britain at the time - certainly from rural India - and made a great impression on the nation, which was captured in the press and even early news reels. The plan had been for the contingent to join the Victory Parade on the 19th July, but when the Peace Treaty of Versailles was finally signed during their voyage it was obvious they would not arrive in time. When influenza broke out on board ship, very sadly leaving five men dead, their journey seemed fruitless. However, King George V led calls for the troops to have their own parade on 2nd August. On a blazing summer day they marched past the new Cenotaph memorial in Whitehall, bearing banners with the names of the places across the globe where they had fought. Crowds turned out to cheer, women threw flowers and bands of Guards played at the head of their parade. The march ended with a review by the King and a garden party at Buckingham Palace, at which 19 year-old Gurkha Naik Karanbahadur Rana was presented with his Victoria Cross. I HEARTILY THANK ALL MY INDIAN SOLDIERS FOR THEIR LOYAL DEVOTION TO ME AND TO MY EMPIRE, AND FOR THEIR SUFFERINGS CHEERFULLY BORNE IN THE VARIOUS CAMPAIGNS IN WHICH THEY HAVE SERVED IN LANDS AND CLIMATES SO VERY DIFFERENT FROM THEIR OWN. From King George V's speech on 2nd August 1919 Indian troops saluting the Cenotaph on their Victory Parade in Whitehall, London 1919 For over six weeks the soldiers were well looked-after and entertained on tours of London and across Britain, as their hosts impressed them with the sights and also the military might of the 'home nation'. They toured in red London buses - the same buses that had driven some of them to the Western Front in 1914 – visiting the Tower of London, Madame Tussaud's and a Chelsea football match. There were trips to a secret warship at Portsmouth dockyard, a bombing demonstration on the River Medway, flights at the Handley-Page aircraft factory and even a trip down the River Clyde from Glasgow.p The camp was laid out along the River Thames, with streets separating the British and Indian officers’ bell tents from the other ranks. This was not the first time Indian soldiers had camped at Hampton Court, as the army fell back on plans made for the coronation celebrations of Edward VII and George V in 1902 and 1910. Careful arrangements were made to respect the religious and social customs of the different peoples represented by regiments from across India and its modern neighbours – including Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus. There were separate slaughter pens and kitchens, laundries and latrines (dug toilets) run by civilian camp ‘followers’. Entertainments were laid on including a cinema tent provided by the Young Men’s Christian Association as well as organised sports, and the men were allowed to leave camp with a pass. A souvenir book commemorating the visit to England of 1,800 Indian troops in the Autumn of 1919 to acknowledge the role the Indian Armed Forces played during the First World War. Behind this forgotten story of British and Indian comradeship in victory hides a much more complicated one of India's role in the First World War. The Indian Army was the creation of British colonial rule, built around racial prejudices to secure dominion over the Indian subcontinent. The Peace Celebrations of 1919 brought this great contribution and sacrifice to the public’s attention but as promises of greater self-rule dwindled, this story from the First World War became easier to forget.

FEW WORDS ABOUT ODISHA ( BY LOKANATH MISHRA)

ଓଡ଼ିଶା:- ଖାରବେଳଙ୍କ ତିଆରି ହାତୀଗୁମ୍ଫାରେ ଥିବା ଶିଳାଲେଖ, ଉଦୟଗିରି ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ମାନବ ଇତିହାସ ପୁରାତନ ପ୍ରସ୍ଥର ଯୁଗରୁ ଆରମ୍ଭ ହୋଇଥିବାର ପ୍ରମାଣ ମିଳେ । ଏଠାରେ ଅନେକ ସ୍ଥାନରୁ ଏହି ଯୁଗର ହାତ ହତିଆର ମିଳିଛି । ଖ୍ରୀ.ପୂ. ୨୬୧ରେ ମୌର୍ଯ୍ୟ ବଂଶର ସମ୍ରାଟ ଅଶୋକ ଦୟା ନଦୀ କୂଳରେ ଭୟଙ୍କର କଳିଙ୍ଗ ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ସେପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଅପରାଜିତ ଥିବା କଳିଙ୍ଗକୁ ଦଖଲ କରିଥିଲେ । ଏହି ଘଟଣା ପରେ ସେ ଭାରତ ବାହାରେ ବୌଦ୍ଧଧର୍ମର ପ୍ରଚାର ପ୍ରସାର ନିମନ୍ତେ ପଦକ୍ଷେପ ନେଇଥିଲେ । ପ୍ରାଚୀନ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଦକ୍ଷିଣ-ପୁର୍ବ ଏସିଆର ଦେଶ ମାନଙ୍କ ସହିତ ନୌବାଣିଜ୍ୟ ସମ୍ପର୍କ ରହିଥିଲା । ସିଂହଳର ପ୍ରାଚୀନ ଗ୍ରନ୍ଥ ମହାବଂଶରୁ ଜଣାଯାଏ ସେଠାର ପୁରାତନ ଅଧିବାସୀ ପ୍ରାଚୀନ କଳିଙ୍ଗରୁ ଯାଇଥିଲେ । ଦୀର୍ଘ ବର୍ଷ ଧରି ସ୍ୱାଧୀନ ରହିବାପରେ, ଖ୍ରୀ.ଅ. ୧୫୬୮ରେ ଏହି ଅଞ୍ଚଳ ବଙ୍ଗଳାର ସେନାପତି କଳାପାହାଡ଼ଦ୍ୱାରା ଅଧିକୃତ ହୋଇଥିଲା । ଖ୍ରୀ ଅ ୧୭୫୧ରେ ଏହି ଅଞ୍ଚଳ ମରାଠା ମାନଙ୍କ ଅଧୀନକୁ ଆସିଥିଲା । ୧୮୦୩ ମସିହାରେ ଇଂରେଜମାନେ ଏହି ଅଞ୍ଚଳକୁ ନିଜ ଅଧୀନକୁ ନେଇଥିଲେ ତ। ୧୯୩୬ ମସିହାରେ ବିଛିନ୍ନ ଅଞ୍ଚଳ ଗୁଡ଼ିକ ଏକତ୍ର କରାଯାଇ ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ଓଡ଼ିଶା ପ୍ରଦେଶ ଗଠନ କରାଗଲା । ଭାଷାକୁ ନେଇ ଗଠିତ ଏହା ପ୍ରଥମ ରାଜ୍ୟ ଥିଲା । ଗଙ୍ଗ ରାଜା ଲାଙ୍ଗୁଳା ନରସିଂହ ଦେବଙ୍କଦ୍ୱାରା ତିଆରି କୋଣାର୍କ ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ମନ୍ଦିର, ଏହା ଏକ ବିଶ୍ୱ ଐତିହ୍ୟ ସ୍ଥଳୀ । ସିଂହଳ(ଶ୍ରୀଲଙ୍କା), ଜାଭା, ସୁମାତେରା, ବାଲି, ବ୍ରହ୍ମଦେଶ (ମିଆଁମାର), ସାମ (ଥାଇଲାଣ୍ଡ), କାମ୍ବୋଡ଼ିଆ, ଅନାମ (ଭିଏତନାମ), ଚୀନ, ଜବନ (ଜାପାନ), କୁକୁଟ (କୋରିଆ), ମକ୍କସିଖ (ମେକ୍ସିକୋ), ମିସର (ଇଜିପ୍ଟ), ସିମିଳି (ଆରବ), ବାବିଲନ (ଇରାକ) ପ୍ରଭୃତି ସ୍ଥାନରେ କଳିଙ୍ଗର ନିର୍ମାଣ-କଳା ଓ ବାଣିଜ୍ୟ-ସଂସ୍କୃତି-ଇତିହାସର ଚିହ୍ନ ଏବେ ବି ଦେଖିବାକୁ ମିଳେ । ସଂମ୍ଭବତଃ ଲୋକତନ୍ତ୍ର ପ୍ରଚଳିତ ଥିଲା । ଖ୍ରୀ.ପୂ. ୨୬୧ - ପୃଥିବୀ ବିଖ୍ୟାତ କଳିଙ୍ଗ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ ଖ୍ରୀ.ପୂ. ୧ମ ଶତାବ୍ଦୀ - ଚେଦୀ ରାଜବଂଶର ସମ୍ରାଟ ମହାମେଘବାହାନ ଐର ଖାରବେଳଙ୍କ ରାଜତ୍ୱ, କଳିଙ୍ଗର ପରିସୀମା ଆଗଙ୍ଗା-କାବେରୀ, ତଥା ପଶ୍ଚିମ ଓ ମଧ୍ୟ ଭାରତକୁ ବିସ୍ତାରିତ । ଜୈନ ଧର୍ମର ପ୍ରସାର । ୩ୟ-ଷଷ୍ଠ ଶତାବ୍ଦୀ - ଗୁପ୍ତ-ରାଜବଂଶ, ହର୍ଷବର୍ଦ୍ଧନ, ଦ୍ୱିତୀୟ ପୁଲକେଶୀ, ମାଠର, ଭୌମକର ଇତ୍ୟାଦି ବିଭିନ୍ନ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ଶାସନାଧୀନ ୭୯୫ ଖ୍ରୀ. - କେଶରୀ ରାଜବଂଶ । ଯଯାତି କେଶରୀ କଳିଙ୍ଗ, କୋଶଳ ଓ ଉତ୍କଳକୁ ଏକତ୍ର କଲେ ।ଜଯାଜପୁରରେ ରାଜଧାନୀ ସ୍ଥାପନ । ୧୦୭୮-୧୪୩୪ ଖ୍ରୀ. - ଗଙ୍ଗବଂଶର ଅନନ୍ତବର୍ମା ଚୋଳଗଙ୍ଗ ଦେବଙ୍କ ରାଜତ୍ୱ ପ୍ରାରମ୍ଭ । ୧୦୭୮-୧୧୫୦ ଖ୍ରୀ. - ଚୋଡ଼ଗଙ୍ଗ ଦେବଙ୍କ ରାଜୁତି । ପୁରୀ ଶ୍ରୀଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ମନ୍ଦିର ନବୀକରଣ ପ୍ରାରମ୍ଭ । କଟକ ହେଲା ନୂଆ ରାଜଧାନୀ (ପ୍ରାୟ ୧୧୭୦ ଖ୍ରୀ.) । ୧୧୭୦-୧୧୯୮ ଖ୍ରୀ. - ଦ୍ୱିତୀୟ ଅନଙ୍ଗଭୀମଦେବ । ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ମନ୍ଦିରର ନିର୍ମାଣ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ସମାପ୍ତ । ୧୨୨୯ ଖ୍ରୀ. - ତୃତୀୟ ଅନଙ୍ଗଭୀମଦେବଙ୍କଦ୍ୱାରା ବାରବାଟି ଦୁର୍ଗ ନିର୍ମିତ । ୧୨୩୮-୧୨୬୪ ଖ୍ରୀ. - ଲାଙ୍ଗୁଳା ନରସିଂହଦେବ । କୋଣାର୍କ ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ମନ୍ଦିର ନିର୍ମିତ | ୧୪୩୫-୧୫୪୧ ଖ୍ରୀ. - ଗଜପତି ରାଜବଂଶ । ଆଗଙ୍ଗା-ଗୋଦାବରୀ ସାମ୍ରାଜ୍ୟ । ୧୪୩୫-୧୪୬୬ ଖ୍ରୀ. - (ନବକୋଟି କର୍ଣ୍ଣାଟ ଉତ୍କଳ ବର୍ଗେଶ୍ୱର) କପିଳେନ୍ଦ୍ରଦେବ । ଗଂଗା ଠାରୁ ଗୋଦାବରୀ ଥିଲା ଓଡିଶା । ୧୪୯୭-୧୫୪୧ ଖ୍ରୀ. - ରାଜା ପୁରୁଷୋତ୍ତମଦେବ ଓ ତାଙ୍କପରେ ପ୍ରତାପରୂଦ୍ରଦେବ । ୧୫୬୮ ଖ୍ରୀ. - ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଶେଷ ସ୍ୱାଧୀନ ହିନ୍ଦୁ ଶାସକ ମୁକୁନ୍ଦଦେବ ପରାସ୍ତ । ବଙ୍ଗର ମୁସଲିମ ଶାସକ ସୁଲେମାନ କରାଣୀ ତଥା ତାଙ୍କ ସେନାପତି କଳାପାହାଡ଼ଦ୍ୱାରା ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଅଧିକୃତ । ୧୫୭୬ ଖ୍ରୀ. - ମୋଗଲମାନଙ୍କର ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଅଧିକାର । ୧୭୫୧ ଖ୍ରୀ. - ମରହଟ୍ଟାମାନଙ୍କର ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଅଧିକାର । ୧୮୦୩ ଖ୍ରୀ. - ୧୪ ଅକ୍ଟୋବର: ବ୍ରିଟିଶମାନେ ଓଡିଶା ଅଧିକାର କଲେ। ୧୯୧୨ ଖ୍ରୀ. - ବିହାର-ଓଡ଼ିଶା , ବଙ୍ଗରୁ ଅଲଗା ପ୍ରାନ୍ତ ଭାବେ ଗଠିତ । ୧୯୩୬ ଖ୍ରୀ. - ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ଓଡ଼ିଶା ପ୍ରାନ୍ତ ଗଠିତ । ୧୯୪୭ ଖ୍ରୀ. - ସ୍ୱାଧୀନ ଭାରତର ଏକ ରାଜ୍ୟ ଭାବେ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ମାନ୍ୟତା-ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ । ୧୯୪୮ ଖ୍ରୀ. - ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱର ନୂତନ ରାଜଧାନୀ ଓଡିଶାରେ ଗଙ୍ଗବଂଶ ୧୪୩୪ ଯାଏଁ ଥିଲା । ତାହା ପରେ କପିଳେନ୍ଦ୍ରଦେବ, ପ୍ରତାପରୁଦ୍ରଦେବ, ଗୋବିନ୍ଦ ବିଦ୍ୟାଧର, ମୁକୁନ୍ଦ ହରିଚନ୍ଦନ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଶାସକ ଥିଲେ। ପରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଆଫଗାନମାନଙ୍କ ହାତକୁ ଆସିଲା ଓ ୧୫୬୮ରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ମୋଗଲମାନଙ୍କ ଶାସନାଧୀନ ହେଲା । ଏହି ସମୟରେ ୧୭୫୫ ଖ୍ରୀ. ବେଳକୁ ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ଅତ୍ୟାଚାର, ଲୁଣ୍ଠନ, ଅରାଜକତା ଆଦି ବହୁ ମାତ୍ରାରେ ବ୍ୟାପୀ ଯାଇଥିଲା । ୧୮୦୩ରେ ଇଂରେଜମାନେ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଅଧିକାର କଲେ । ୧୮୧୭ ଖ୍ରୀ.ରେ ପାଇକମାନେ ଇଂରେଜ ବିରୋଧରେ ଲଢ଼େଇ ଆରମ୍ଭ କଲେ । ଇଂରେଜମାନେ ନିର୍ମମ ଭାବରେ ଏହି ବିଦ୍ରୋହକୁ ଦମନ କରିଥିଲେ । ୧୮୧୭ରେ ଖୋରଧା ରାଜା ମୁକୁନ୍ଦଦେବ ବନ୍ଦୀ ବେଳେ ମୃତୁ ବରଣ କଲେ । ଯଦିଓ ୧୬ଶ ଓ ୧୭ଶ ଶତାବ୍ଦୀରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ବାହାର-ବାଣିଜ୍ୟ ଉନ୍ନତି ସାଧନ କରିଥିଲା, ତଥାପି କେଇ ବର୍ଷର ରାଜନୀତିକ ଅସ୍ଥିରତା ସକାଶେ ଅର୍ଥନୀତିର ପ୍ରଗତି ବାଧା ପାଇଥିଲା । ୧୯୩୬ ମସିହା ଅପ୍ରେଲ ପହିଲା ଦିନ ଛଅଟି ଜିଲ୍ଲା କଟକ, ପୁରୀ, ବାଲେଶ୍ୱର ଗଞ୍ଜାମ କୋରାପୁଟ ଓ ସମ୍ବଲପୁରକୁ ନେଇ ୩୨,୬୯୫ ବର୍ଗମାଇଲ ଓ ୮୦ଲକ୍ଷ ୪୩ହଜାର ୬୮୧ ଜନସଂଖ୍ୟାକୁ ନେଇ ନୂତନ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ପ୍ରଦେଶ ଗଠିତ ହୋଇଥିଲା । ୧୯୪୮ ମସିହା ଜାନୁଆରୀ ପହିଲା ତାରିଖରେ ୨୩ଟି ଗଡ଼ଜାତର (ଆଠଗଡ଼, ଆଠମଲ୍ଲିକ, କଳାହାଣ୍ଡି, କେନ୍ଦୁଝର, ଖଣ୍ଡପଡ଼ା, ଗାଙ୍ଗପୁର, ଢେଙ୍କାନାଳ, ତାଳଚେର, ତିଗିରିଆ, ଦଶପଲ୍ଲା, ନରସିଂହପୁର, ନୟାଗଡ଼, ନୀଳଗିରି, ପାଟନା, ପାଲଲହଡ଼ା, ବଉଦ, ବଡ଼ମ୍ବା, ବଣାଇ, ବାମଣ୍ଡା, ରଣପୁର, ରେଢ଼ାଖୋଲ, ସୋନପୁର ଓ ହିନ୍ଦୋଳ) ଓଡ଼ିଶା ସହିତ ମିଶ୍ରଣ ହୋଇଥିଲା । ପରେ ମୟୂରଭଞ୍ଜର ଓଡ଼ିଶା ସହ ମିଶ୍ରଣ ହୋଇଥିଲା । ଏହି ଗଡ଼ଜାତ ମିଶ୍ରଣ ପରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଲୋକସଂଖ୍ୟା ପହଞ୍ଚିଲା ୧କୋଟି ୪୬ଲକ୍ଷ ୪୫ହଜାର ୯୪୬ରେ ଓ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରଫଳ ହେଲା ୬୦ହଜାର ୧୭୦ ବର୍ଗମାଇଲ । ୧୯୫୦ ଜାନୁଆରୀ ୨୬ତାରିଖରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ଆଉ ୭ଟି ଜିଲ୍ଲା ଯୋଗହେଲା ମୋଟ ଜିଲ୍ଲା ସଂଖ୍ୟା ହେଲା ୧୩ । ୧୯୯୩ ଏହି ୧୩ଟି ଜିଲ୍ଲା ପୁନର୍ଗଠିତ ହୋଇ ୩୦ଟି ଜିଲ୍ଲା ହେଲା ।

CHINESE ODISHI DANCER MADE HISTORY ( BY LOKANATH MISHRA)

Odissi (Odia: ଓଡ଼ିଶୀ) dance is a major ancient Indian classical dance that originated in the temple of Prabhu Shri Jagannath, Puri and other famous temples in Odisha. Odissi is believed to be one of the oldest surviving classical dance forms in the country, originating its roots dating back to the Prabhu Shri Jagannath temple of Puri in the 2nd century BCE. As with all other classical dance forms of India, Odissi was also performed as a part of temple worship. The theoretical foundations of Odissi trace to the ancient Sanskrit text Natya Shastra, its existence in antiquity evidenced by the dance poses in the sculptures of Kalingan temples and archeological sites related to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. It was suppressed under the Muslim and British Rule. The suppression was protested by the Indians, followed by its revival, reconstruction and expansion since India gained independence from the colonial rule. Odissi is traditionally a dance-drama genre of performance art, where the artist(s) and musicians play out a story, a spiritual message or devotional poem from the Hindu texts, using symbolic costumes,body movement, abhinaya (expressions) and mudras (gestures and sign language) set out in ancient Sanskrit literature. During the Sultanate and Mughal era of India, the temple dancers were moved to entertain the Sultan's family and courts. They became associated with concubinage to the Sultanas and Moguls The Odissi dance likely expanded in the 17th century, under Gajapati King Ramachandradeva's patronage. This expansion integrated martial arts (akhanda) and athletics into Odissi dance, by engaging boys and youth called Gotipuas, as a means to physically train the young for the military and to resist foreign invasions. According to Ragini Devi, historical evidence suggests that the Gotipuas tradition was known and nurtured in the 14th century, by Raja of Khordha. During the British Raj, the officials of the colonial government ridiculed the temple traditions, while Christian missionaries launched a sustained attack on the moral outrage of sensuousness of Odissi and other Hindu temple dance arts. In 1872, a British civil servant named William Hunter watched a performance at the Jagannatha temple in Puri, then wrote, "Indecent ceremonies disgraced the ritual, and dancing girls with rolling eyes put the modest worshiper to the blush...", and then attacked them as idol-worshiping prostitutes who expressed their devotion with "airy gyrations". Christian missionaries launched the "anti-dance movement" in 1892, to ban all such dance forms. The dancers were frequently stigmatized as prostitutes by Europeans during the colonial era. In 1910, the British colonial government in India banned temple dancing, and the dance artists were reduced to abject poverty from the lack of any financial support for performance arts, combined with stereotyping stigma. The temple dance ban and the cultural discrimination during the colonial rule marshaled a movement by Hindus to question the stereotypes and to revive the regional arts of India, including Odissi. Due to these efforts, the classical Indian dances witnessed a period of renaissance and reconstruction, which gained momentum particularly after Indians gained their freedom from colonialism. Odissi, along with several other major Indian dances gained recognition after efforts by many scholars and performers after 1947. Now Odishi dance is being performed by modern dancers throughout the world 🌎 At present there are many odishi dancers of foreign countries are performing Odishi dance. Many Muslim and Christian dancers are also performing Odishi dance in USA, Canada 🍁, Australia, UK, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇫🇷 France etc. The first Chinese Odishi dancer Zhang Jun had passed away in 2012. Chinese Odissi dancer Wu Kan was learnt Odishi dance form Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra’s Odissi institution . Chinese Odishi dancer Soo Mei Fei was learnt Odishi dance at the age of seventeen, along with her classmates at National Junior College of Singapore . Recently one Chinese dancer makes history by performing Odishi and 'Arangetram' in China . Lei Muzi, a 13-year-old school student, made her solo dance debut on Sunday (August 11) in front of the celebrated Bharatanatyam dancer Leela Samson, Indian diplomats and a large audience of Chinese fans. Lei Muzi, the Chinese Bharatanatyam student, performs at the first ever Arangetram, and Odishi dance in Beijing, China on August 11, 2024. For ardent Chinese fans of Indian classical art and dance forms who devoted their lives to learning and performing them for decades, her debut was a moment of history and a milestone as it was the first-ever “Arangetram” - Bharatnatyam's graduation ceremony - in China.