Utkala Kingdom

Utkala Kingdom (Odia: ଉତ୍କଳ; Devnagari: उत्कल) was located in the northern and eastern portion of the modern-day Indian state of Odisha. This kingdom was mentioned in the epic Mahabharata, with the names Utkala, Utpala, Okkal and Odra desha. It is mentioned in India's national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.

Early Sanskrit Literature

The early medieval literature says "उत्कृष्ट कलायाः देशः यः सः उत्कलः ".Means the land which has excellent opulence of artists and art is called Utkala(Kala=Art,Utkrishta=Excellent);land of Utkrishta=Excellent-Kala=Art.

References in Mahabharata

The Dasarnas, the Mekalas (a kingdom to the west of Utkala) and the Utkalas were mentioned as kingdoms of Bharata Varsha (Ancient India) (6:9). Utkalas were mentioned as taking part in the Kurukshetra War siding with the Kauravas. Many Mekalas and Utkalas, and Kalingas, and Nishadas, and Tamraliptakas, advanced against Nakula, showering their shafts and lances, desirous of slaying him (8:22).

The Utpalas, the Mekalas, the Paundras, the Kalingas, the Andhras, the Nishadas, the Trigartas, and the Valhikas, were all vanquished by Karna (7:4).

Utkal University

Utkal University (ଉତ୍କଳ ବିଶ୍ୱବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟ, also "Vani Vihar") is the oldest university in Odisha and the 17th oldest university in India located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It is a teaching-cum-affiliating university. There are at present 27 masters departments at the university campus for studies and research in various disciplines of Science, Humanities, Business administration, Social science, Law, and Commerce. There are about 3000 students in the masters departments in the university. This is the largest affiliating university in the country with 267 affiliated general colleges, 15 law colleges, 6 medical and pharmacy colleges.

History

After the separation of Odisha from Bihar and the creation of the new province of Odisha in April 1936, there was a strong desire among the leaders of the province for the establishment of a separate university in Odisha. Until 1936 all the colleges were under the jurisdiction of either Patna University or Andhra University. Subsequently the government of Odisha, with Shri Biswanath Das as the premier, appointed a committee on March 2, 1938, with Pandit Nilakantha Das as its chairman to examine the possibility of establishing a separate university in Odisha. During the premiership of Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, who played a pioneering role in the establishment of the university, the recommendation of this committee was made available. Pandit Godavarish Mishra, the then minister of education in the government of Odisha introduced the Utkal University Bill which was passed by the Odisha Legislative Assembly on June 30, 1943. On receiving the Governor's assent subsequently on August 2, 1943, the Utkal University Act 1943 came into force, clearing the way for the foundation of the university on November 27, 1943.