Revised Spellings of 64 Places of Odisha

Odisha Cabinet has approved the list of revised spellings for 64 places.

There have been distortions and some places have 2/3 spellings! Many English spellings are yet to correct with the Odia pronunciation and spellings.

Take “Pipili” for example.

The English spelling used in the Geographical Indication (GI) application is “Pipli”.

Once can well predict what the Hindi spelling will be if only the English spelling “Pipli” is believed to be true, and other language spellings are based on it.

Have been sharing about the need for uniform spellings and correct representation.

The complete list of revised spellings as follows:

Angul → ANUGOLA

Pallahara → PALALAHADA

Talcher → TALACHER

Bolangir → BALANGIR

Bangamunda → BANGOMUNDA

Balasore → BALESHWAR

Nilgiri → NILAGIRI

Soro → SORA

Bargarh → BARAGADA

Rajborasambar → RAJBODASAMBAR

Bonth → BANTA

Boudhgarh → BOUDHAGADA

Cuttack → KATAKA

Salipur → SALEPUR

Baramba → BADAMBA

Athagarh → ATHAGADA

Deogarh → DEBAGADA

Reamal → RIAMAL

Berhampur → BRAHMAPUR

Hinjilicut → HINJILIKATU

Aska → ASIKA

Surada → SORADA

Dasarathpur → DASHARATHPUR

Dharmasala → DHARMASHALA

Belpahar → BELPAHAD

Junagarh → JUNAGADA

Dharamgarh → DHARMAGADA

Jaipatna → JAYAPATANA

Lanjigarh → LANJIGADA

Bhawanipatna → BHABANIPATANA

Khondmal, Phulbani → KANDHAMALA

Kendrapara → KENDRAPADA

Aul → AALI

Makalapara → MAHAKALAPADA

Keonjhar → KENDUJHAR

Barbil → BADABIL

Keonjhargarh → KENDUJHARGADA

Khurda → KHORDHA

Bolagarh → BOLAGADA

Banpur → BANAPUR

Jatni → JATANI

Jeypore → JAYAPUR

Podia → PADIA

Betnoti → BETANATI

Samakhunta → SHAMAKHUNTA

Morada → MORADA

Rasgovindpur → RASAGOBINDAPUR

Panchpir → PANCHAPIDHA

Umerkote → UMARKOT

Nayagarh → NAYAGADA

Daspalla → DASHAPALLA

Khariar → KHADIAL

Nimapara → NIMAPADA

Rairakhol → REDHAKHOL

Sonepur → SONPUR

Binka → BINIKA

Sundargarh → SUNDARAGADA

Bonaigarh → BANAIGADA

Those filing GI applications must take care.

Names are the identity.

It will be tough to update in all the maps, books etc.

Till now people continue using “Orissa”- the old spelling of Odisha state that was changed to “Odisha” in 2011.

News media and all must be careful while publishing and sharing future articles.

Updates need to be done online too- in websites etc. Those are referred and facts are checked this way! If Wikipedia etc reflect something wrong, it is because of publications with errors where even the name is misspelled !

Odisha Govt. must have a Dictionary section on their websites- with spellings available in 3 languages- Odia, English and Hindi. That will be easily accessible to all.

Should we have a space between words or not? 

In Odia, many words are single eg- Podapitha, Chhenapoda, Rathajatra, Niladribije etc.

The same style guide should be uniformly applied all across.

This will not be a cakewalk as many have grown up with these spellings and references.

A common style guide and maps with updated spellings will be useful for reference and correct sharing in the future.

Publication of maps with the new names amd highlighting the location area along with some trivia/information will pique the interest of visitors.

Many would not have even heard the names of these places! It is a good reference to maps and guides.

Though it will be challenging initially, with everyone’s sincere efforts, usage and implementation, Odisha should have her places spelled right.