Western Odisha demanding separate Koshal state

Published: 23rd Nov, 2023

Context:

The activists have been pressing for a separate Koshal state alleging neglect of the region by the Odisha government in various fields.

Historical Background of Koshala:

Dakshinkoshalis part of kingdom of lord Raama, Later on it was given to his son Kush.
Samudragupta in the 4th century defeated King Mahendra of Koshala, the kingdom that included Sambalpur.
During the 5th and 6th centuries Sambalpur came under the rule of Sarbhapuriyas.
Towards the 7th century it passed in to the hands of Panduvansi king Trivaradeva.
Towards the close of 9th century king Janmajaya I Mahabhavaguptaextended his empire which comprised the modern districts of Sambalpur and Bolangir.
After the British occupied Orissa and bitterness between the British and Marathas ripened, the former found a convenient route via Sambalpur and annihilated the
Sambalpur was occupied by the British on 2nd January, 1804. Finally it passed on to the British in 1817.

Causes for demand:

The modern orissa is consisting of three major area kalinga, utkal and koshal.
The Kosal state movementis an effort by people of the Western Odisha region of India to secede from the state of Odisha.
Prolonged underdevelopment and backwardness of this region.
In the backward districts of Kosal region—Boudh, Sonepur, Balangir and Nuapadamore than 60% of people live below the poverty line.
Recurrent droughts, inadequate irrigation and uneven land distribution have made Kosal a "hunger belt" in Odisha since Independence.
The region also experiences mining and environmental degradation and tribal displacement.
The major language of the area is Sambalpuri. It is variously seen either as a dialect of Odiaor as a language in its own right.

Names of Odisha

Utkala	According to Mahabharata Utkala was a part of Kalinga.
Mahakantara	: This name was found during Gupta period.
Udra	It was the kingdom which included coastal region of Odisha.
Odra	This name was given after Odra tribe.
Oddiyana	This name was mentioned in Buddhist texts.

Constitutional Provisions for States:

Article 2 is titled as:Admission and establishment of new states.
Article 3 is titles as:Formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing states.
Article 4 is titled as:Laws made under Articles 2 and 3 to provide for the amendment of the First and the Fourth Schedules and supplemental, incidents and consequential matters. I.e. a number of seats allotted in the RajyaSabha for each state.
Constitution will not treat any such law altering existing States or creating a new State, as the amendment.

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