Bande Utkala Janani will get specific tune

Bande Utkala Janani

It is the state song of Odisha which is recited before the start of almost all important government and non-government functions. The patriotic song is written by Kantakabi Laxmikant Mohapatra in 1912. In view of the disjointed use of the popular patriotic song by several organizations, the state home department asked the Utkal University of Culture (UUC) to prescribe specific tuning and lines to play the state song, “Bande Utkal Janani”.

UUC would hire a studio and record the song in vocal, instrumental and police band formats. “We will create CDs and distribute it among different organizations. They will either play the same CD or practice the song on their own by following the prescribed tuning,” the VC informed.

The original song is too long (nearly 7 stanzas) and takes nearly seven minutes to finish. Elderly people and children often find it difficult to stand up for a long time during playing of the song at functions. As per government’s permission, UUC will take two or three stanzas for recital, which would take a maximum of 1 or 1.30 minutes.

Prabhukalyan Mohapatra, senior journalist and grandson of the poet, said the state government is yet to accord the “state anthem” status to Bande Utkal Janani.