The theme song of the university — tunga shikhara chula kuncha kanana mala punya jaladhi jala kheli uthe… — is a tribute to the founder member of the institution Pandit Godabarisha Mishra as well as to the state. The lines come from the first three stanzas of a song written by Godabarisha Mishra. He was the education minister of the state who had introduced the Utkal University Bill. Adopted at the 47th convocation of the university in 2016, it has to be song in 2.36 minutes. What took the varsity so long to have a theme song? We won’t know. But the song, lyrical and melodious, is certainly worth the wait.