New Delhi: Akio Tanabe of University of Tokyo, Dr. Annapurna Devi Pandey of Carlifornia University, Amar Farooqui of Delhi University, Chintamani Mohapatra of JNU, BP Sahoo of Delhi University, Naryan Rao of Indian Council for Historical Research, and AJ Thomas of Central Sahitya Academy viewed that the Odisha’s Paika Bidroha should have a tag of national recognition. They said history stands as an evidence of how in 1817 Paika Bidroha of Odisha was the beginning of empowering the Indian nationalism, and added, it is often regarded as a mass struggle to achieve  political sovereignty and economic freedom of the then Odisha

The scholars were speaking on the concluding day of the two day national seminar on Two Hundred Years of Paika Bidhroha,  organised by the Odisha culture department, here at Indian International Centre on Sunday.

“We should view the heterogeneous and plural characteristics of the rebellion not only in terms of the actors, but also in their interests and aims.  Nationalist reconstruction has depicted the same event a popular freedom movement involving various castes, classes and religions of Orissan society. We should call it Odisha (Khordha) rebellion,1817.”

Acedmicians and scholars from Odisha Jatindra Kumar Nayak and Abhiram Biswal presented their papers respectively based on literary texts in background of Paika Rebellion. Nivedita Mohanty, Chandi Prasad Nanda, Lalatendu Dasmohapatra, Dhirendra Nanda went deep into manifold regions behind this mass struggle which was an expression of political will and Indian nationalism.

The symposium comprised of 5 thematic sessions on ‘Situating the Paika Rebellion: Genealogy and Linkeages’, ‘Paika Rebellion:Comparative Perspectives’, ‘History and Historiography’, ‘Revisiting the Paikka Rebellion’ and ‘Understanding the Paika Rebellion’ presented by the speakers with their opinions .

Convener of the event DN Rout said, “ The motive behind organizing this seminar is to spread the significance, impact and extra ordinary facts about the rebellion for a larger perspective and establish it in an international sphere by bringing it from an academic point of view.”

The valedictory function was  graced by Rajya Sabha MP A.V Swamy, former Indian ambassador to Nepal,  K.V , Rajan, and Subhasini Barik . State culture secretary Manoranjan Panigrahy, culture director Amarendra K.Pattnaik, chairman of the organising committee Amarendra Khatua , and chairman of reception committee Bhagaban Prakash were present.