Bhubaneswar celebrates 66th Foundation Day
Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha today celebrates its 66th Foundation Day.
It was on this day in 1948 that the first Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had laid the State capital city’s foundation-stone. Since then, Bhubaneswar remains a celebrated model of modern architecture and city planning with the prehistoric past as a Temple City.
Governor SC Jamir will attend the 66th Capital Foundation Day celebration as the chief guest in front of the Odisha Assembly today. He will receive the ceremonial civilian parade salute and felicitate as many as 12 persons with the Rajadhani Gaurab Samman 2014.
“For the first time, a nurse, a post peon, a sweeper, a sportsperson, a lawyer, an actor and an actress, besides others will get the Rajadhani Gaurab Samman for excellence in their duties from the Governor,” informed Capital Day Celebration Committee vice-president Pradyumna Mohanty.
The celebration will culminate on April 15. Many events like cultural programmes will be organsied during the three days. The Governor will also launch an online search portal KhojaKhoji.com for the capital city on the occasion.
Punjab capital Chandigarh was also designed in the same era of the post-Independent India.
Chandigarh was planned by French architect Le Corbusier and Bhubaneswar by German architect Dr Otto Koenigsberger. Le Corbusier’s architectural work in Chandigarh is in the process to qualify for inclusion in the World Heritage List by the UNESCO. In 2006-07, Chandigarh came up on the tentative list, but in 2010 the decision on it was deferred. However, there is every possibility that Chandigarh is going to be declared as a World Heritage City in near future.
But no proposal has been submitted to the UNESCO to enlist Bhubaneswar in this list though it has more potential than Chandigarh to qualify for the recognition.
