Bengaluru: There are various similarities between Odisha and Karnataka.
Scientist-turned-author Subhransu Mohapatra has written a book on the subject titled ‘Beyond Obvious: Odisha-Karnataka Relationship Over The Ages’, which was recently launched at Bangalore International Centre.
Dr Rajeev Gowda, Vice-Chairman of State Institute for the Transformation of Karnataka, lauded the author for his work and said that Odias and Kannadigas have a rich historical and cultural heritage.
Bhumika Anand, Founder Director of Bangalore Writers’ Workshop, said that such a book was needed for people close to each other in times of growing divisiveness in society.
Bengaluru-based eminent Odia thinker Pranab Pani mentioned about the significance of the book at a time when Odia diaspora in Bengaluru has crossed 1 million.
The launch event featured a book reading session, where the author spoke about some interesting connections between the two states and how teachings of the Kalinga War have affected life in Karnataka through Emperor Ashoka’s inscriptions which are found in plenty in the southern state.
While frequent battles between Vijayanagar Empire and Odisha Gajapatis were common in the Middle Ages, a deep economic connection between the two states is evolving in the modern age, Mohapatra said.
Anil Dhir, Convener of Intach Bhubaneswar Chapter, opined that proper documentation and research on Kalingan influence in the four southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu has not been conducted. These states have a history related to the Ganga and the Suryavamsi Gajapatis.
Intach Odisha will soon be launching a project to document the Kalingan heritage in four southern states and bring out a detailed report, which is the first detailed survey of Kalingan heritage in these states.
A team of Intach Odisha, under supervision of Deepak Kumar Nayak, has been exploring the region over the last two years. Nayak has already identified and located several unknown monuments, inscriptions and artifacts in Andhra and Telangana.
Many unknown aspects of the influence of Odia emperors who had extended their kingdom till Deep South have not been studied. Intach’s project will be the first detailed survey of Kalingan heritage in these states.
