TNI Bureau: The Odisha government has proposed a change in the English spellings of several towns and districts to better match their original Odia pronunciation. Among the key suggestions are renaming Cuttack as Kataka and Angul as Anugola. The move is aimed at restoring linguistic accuracy and preserving the cultural identity of place names.

To ensure a transparent process, the government has sought opinions from the public before taking a final call. Citizens, experts, and stakeholders have been asked to submit their views within a specified period, making the exercise participatory.

The proposal is based on recommendations by a committee that reviewed how many place names have been altered over time due to anglicisation. According to officials, these changes often distorted the original pronunciation in Odia. By revising the spellings, the government hopes to bring them closer to their traditional roots.

Apart from Kataka and Anugola, several other names are also under consideration. For instance, Balasore may become Baleshwar, Bargarh could be Baragada, Jeypore to Jayapur and Berhampur might be renamed Brahmapur. These changes reflect a broader attempt to standardise names in line with local language usage.

Officials say the effort goes beyond administrative changes and is tied to cultural preservation. Many of these names have historical and linguistic significance, and aligning them with their original form is seen as a way to protect Odisha’s heritage.

The proposal has sparked interest and discussion, as people weigh the importance of linguistic authenticity against the convenience of existing names. The final decision will depend largely on public response and feedback received by the government.