TNI Bureau: The Odisha Government has issued a notification to rectify and standardize the English spellings of 64 places across 26 districts, aiming to restore names that better reflect their original Odia pronunciation and linguistic heritage.
The changes will apply to districts, subdivisions, tahasils, blocks and urban local bodies across the state. According to the notification, several English spellings introduced during the British era do not accurately represent Odia phonetics, prompting the government to revise them.
Among the approved changes are Angul to Anugola, Pallahara to Palalahada, Talcher to Talacher, Bolangir to Balangir, Bangamunda to Bangomunda, Balasore to Baleshwar, Nilgiri to Nilagiri, Soro to Sora, Bargarh to Baragada, Rajborasambar to Rajbodasambar, Bonth to Banta, Boudhgarh to Boudhagada, Cuttack to Katak, Athagarh to Athagada, Salipur to Salepur, Baramba to Badamba, Deogarh to Debagada, Reamal to Riamal, Berhampur to Brahmapur, Hinjilicut to Hinjilikatu, Aska to Asika, Suruda to Sorada, Dasarathpur to Dasharathpur, Dharmasala to Dharmashala, Belpahar to Belpahad, Dharamgarh to Dharmagada, Junagarh to Junagada, Jaipatna to Jayapatna, Lanjigarh to Lanjigada, Bhawanipatna to Bhabanipatana, Khondmal to Kandhamala, Kendrapara to Kendrapada, Aul to Aali, Mahakalapara to Mahakalapada, Keonjhar to Kendujhar, Barbil to Badabil, Keonjhargarh to Kendujhargada, Khurda to Khordha, Balagarh to Bolagada, Banpur to Banapur, Jatni to Jatani, Jeypore to Jayapur, Podia to Padia, Betnoti to Betanati, Samakhunta to Shamakhunta, Moroda to Morada, Rasgovindpur to Rasagobindapur, Panchpir to Panchapidha, Umerkote to Umarkot, Nayagarh to Nayagada, Daspalla to Dashapalla, Khariar to Khadial, Nimapara to Nimapada, Rairakhol to Redhakhol, Sonepur to Sonpur, Binka to Binika, Sundargarh to Sundaragada, Bonaigarh to Banaigada, Koira to Koida, Lephripara to Lephripada, Subdega to Sabdega, Bargaon to Badagan, Lahunipara to Lahunipada and Rourkela to Raurkela.
The move is aimed at preserving Odisha’s linguistic and cultural identity by aligning official English spellings with traditional Odia pronunciation.
