Youngsters debate the change of the state’s name from Orissa to Odisha in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwine Pati

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 7: Orissa is now officially Odisha and this transition has become the talk of the town. From middle-class drawing rooms to swanky restaurants and malls, college canteens to social networking sites, a debate seems to be brewing over the name change.

Youngsters in the capital, too, are exploring the utility of the new name. And it does not seem to have gone down well with most of them.

Sujit Kumar Hota, a student of Institute of Technical Education and Research (Iter), said: “The spelling on signboards, number plates and all official records has to be changed.

“Crores of money would be spent, rather wasted on this. The same amount of money could well be spent on education and healthcare, especially in backward areas, or for due payment of salaries to teachers in block grant institutions. That would bring about a real change.”

Several others feel the name change was unnecessary.

Bhupen Chauhan, a student of College of Engineering and Technology (CET), sees no logic in changing the spelling and pronunciation of the state’s name. Although a non-Oriya, Bhupen was born and brought up in Orissa.

“Our state became independent in 1936. What is the point of changing its name after 75 years? Moreover, it could have been renamed as Kalinga or Utkal, something that would have reflected the heritage and legacy of Orissa. It does not make any difference to me at all,” he said.

Even phonetically, the “sh” in Odisha does not sound proper, argues Ananya, a BJB College student.

“I don’t like the sound of it. People from north India would still pronounce our state’s name as Udisha while south Indians would continue calling it Orissa, with extra emphasis on the ‘r’. I tell you nothing will change with this frenzied decision,” Ananya said.

Sonali Mohanty, a student of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, said the government must focus on ameliorating the woes of the people, especially those affected by the recent floods.

“The chief minister called the change of name from Orissa to Odisha and Oriya to Odia as a historic development but it is ironical that he cannot speak a single word in his mother tongue.

“Instead of diverting all their energy and resources on revising the name on signboards and official documents, the government must attend to people in distress first,” she said.

A few others, however, believe that the new name sounds better and makes them feel more Oriya than ever.

“Orissa sounds foreign. Many of my friends often misspell it with two r’s but Odisha is much more convenient. Though others might feel that it smacks of regional chauvinism, for me, Odisha arouses a sense of belonging to my land,” said Riya Das, a student of KIIT University.