We might have seen many outward developments in the past 75 years, but Oriya language and culture are still languishing in neglect. Orissa - that the makers of the state had dreamt of - still remains a distant dream.

The leaders, who had led the movement for a separate Orissa province, had dreamt of a bigger state carved out with all the Oriya-speaking tracts. Their dreams have remained unfulfilled. Outlying Oriya-speaking tracts such as, Sareikala-Kharsuan, Midnapur and Palasa, have remained outside.

I was a 24-year-old youth when the Orissa province was formed. I was excited when the British rulers conceded to carve out a separate Orissa province on linguistic basis after a long struggle led by Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das, Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das and other great sons of Orissa.

Madhubabu (architect of modern Orissa) had dreamt of an industrially prosperous self-reliant state. But his dream has remained unfilled. Orissa is now known for its poverty and backwardness. Gandhiji's 'Gram Swaraj' has remained a distant dream in rural and agrarian Orissa.

There should be an overall development of the state. Each and every person should be self-reliant and get a square meal a day. Every one should be educated. But about half of the state's population are still living below the poverty line and lakhs of children are out of primary school.

The state has not only lagged behind in economic development, but there has been moral degeneration as well. Corruption has pervaded every sphere of public life.

Earlier, the politicians were busy in jan seva (service of the people). Now, the present political class is keen on atma seva (self-service). Electoral politics has become very costly. I had spent Rs 5,000 during my Assembly election in the 50s. Now, the candidates are spending more than Rs 5 crore in an election.

Though Orissa got a separate state status on linguistic basis, the present status of the Oriya language and culture is discouraging. Oriyas do not read Oriya books. They even hesitate to speak in their mother tongue. As a result, very few Oriya books are being published. Various folk and art forms are on the verge of extinction.

If this trend continues, Oriya language and culture will lose its identity within 50 years.

As told to Subrat Das