TO UTKAL, MY MOTHER LAND

TO UTKAL, MY MOTHER LAND

O Mother, Utkal! You are a rich repertory of infinite and invaluable Treasure;
You have given birth to Baji Rout, India's youngest Martyr,
You have given birth to the first Odia Scientist Samanta  Chandrasekhar,
You have given birth to Odia Bhagabata's composer, Atibadi Jagannath Dasa,
The Pancha Sakhas, and the composer of Odia Mahabharata, Sudramuni Sarala Dasa,
You have been the auspicious birth place to Subhash Chandra Bose,
You have given birth to Buxi Jagabandhu,
You have given birth to Utkal Mani Gopabandhu,
You have given birth to Phakir Mohan, Pranakrushna and Radhanath Ray,
You have given birth to Bir Surendra Sai,
You given birth to Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja,
You have given birth to Sriram Chandra Bhanja,
You have given birth to Rama Devi, Nandini and Biju Patnaik,
You have transformed drastically a sanguinary Ashok!

You are world famous for Konark's Sun Temple,
Your holy feet are washed on the shore of the Bay of Bengal,
You are the Sacred Sanctum of Lord Jagannath, the Presiding Deity of the State,
You are the abode of Simli Pal, Bhitarkanika, Daringbadi and Chilika Lake,
You are adored for Pipli's canopy, and Puri's Car Festival's sake,
Yes, Your bounties are matchless; and Your blessings are great! 

Thus, we, the successive children of Your Praiseworthy Progeny,
Promise to make You proud with our due duties as Your bygone stalwart Kids many!

N.B: This poem was composed to be dedicated to my Mother land Utkal, the present name Odisha, on the occasion of 82nd Utkal Divas.

Copyright: Dr. Shankar Mishra, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India 
Please forward this poem. TQ.

I am proud to be a son of Mother Utkal.