Bhubaneswar: The contribution of journalists in maintaining the values of democracy as the fourth pillar of the constitution is unique and incomparable, said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today on the occasion of Odia Journalism Day.
Taking to his ‘X’ handle, the CM extended his greetings to all the Odia journalists working in different sectors.
In his post, the CM stated that Odisha’s first printed Odia newspaper ‘Utkal Deepika’ was published by Karmavir Gourishankar Ray on this day in 1866. The journey of Odia journalism started with the publication of ‘Utkal Deepika’, he said.
ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସାମ୍ବାଦିକତା ଦିବସ ଅବସରରେ ସମସ୍ତ ସାମ୍ବାଦିକ ଭଉଣୀଭାଇଙ୍କୁ ଅନେକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ । ଚତୁର୍ଥ ସ୍ତମ୍ଭ ଭାବେ ଗଣତନ୍ତ୍ରର ମୂଲ୍ୟବୋଧକୁ ବଜାୟ ରଖିବାରେ ସାମ୍ବାଦିକଙ୍କ ଅବଦାନ ଅତୁଳନୀୟ । ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ପ୍ରତିଟି ସୁଖ ଦୁଃଖକୁ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ପହଞ୍ଚାଇବା ପାଇଁ ୧୮୬୬ ମସିହା ଆଜିର ଦିନରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ପ୍ରଥମ ମୁଦ୍ରିତ ଓଡ଼ିଆ… pic.twitter.com/JWekfc3y50
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) August 4, 2024
Karmavir Gourishankar Ray became the editor of ‘Utkal Deepika’ which was first published as a weekly magazine before becoming a daily newspaper.
‘Utkal Deepika’ was published in Cuttack by Gaurishankar and his close friend Bichitrananda Das through the Cuttack Printing Company.
“Utkala Deepika” was crucial in reshaping the social and political landscape of the era and putting forth forceful requests to the government for the self-defense of the Odia people. It worked towards social reform by speaking out against a number of reprehensible societal norms, such as child marriage. The popularity of “Utkal Deepika” started a trend in the Odisha newspaper publishing industry.
As a result, August 4 is commemorated as Odia Journalism Day annually.
