By admin 
Bhadrak (Ama Aitiha News / Manas Rout):
A national symposium titled “History, Culture and Archaeology of North Odisha” was jointly organized by the Department of History, Biranchi Narayan Madhav Arjun (B.N.M.A.) College, Paliabindha, Bhadrak district, and the Postgraduate Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology (AIHC&A), Utkal University.
Professor Ashok Kumar Patnaik, former Head of the Department of History, Utkal University, attended the symposium as the chief guest. In his address, he highlighted the contribution of North Odisha to the freedom movement during the medieval and British periods. He elaborated on the defeat of the last Hindu emperor of Odisha, Mukunda Deva, at Gohiratikiri and briefly discussed the rule of the Mughals, Marathas, and the British in Odisha. He also referred to the sacrifice of women freedom fighters, citing the Inchudi Salt Satyagraha and Rakta Tirtha Iram, and praised the role of Utkal Keshari Dr. Harekrushna Mahatab during the pre-independence era.
Dr. Sunil Kumar Patnaik, former Director of the Institute of Maritime and South East Asian Studies, participated as the keynote speaker. He shed light on the rich historical legacy of North Odisha and presented a detailed account of archaeological explorations, particularly the discovery of the Durga Devi site in the Balasore and Mayurbhanj regions.
Professor Sanjay Acharya, former Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Utkal University, joined as the guest of honour. He highlighted the excellence of Odisha’s art, sculpture, and cultural traditions and explained the architectural features of ancient Odisha. He also informed students about how artefacts discovered from various archaeological sites in North Odisha reflect the region’s cultural identity.
Assistant Professor Dr. Anam Behera spoke on the theme of the symposium, emphasizing that the archaeological contribution of North Odisha is significant in human history. He stated that the region witnessed the gradual evolution of human civilization from the Old Stone Age to the Metal Age. Stone tools and shouldered celts discovered at sites such as Kuliana, Bedipur, and Amaskira in Mayurbhanj district stand as evidence of this development.
Referring to ancient history, speakers noted that the Asanpat stone inscriptions and the Sitabinji frescoes of Keonjhar provide valuable information about the rule of the Naga dynasty. Ancient coins, Bhadrakali stone inscriptions, the Tyre copperplate inscriptions, along with Buddhist and Jain relics, reflect the region’s rich cultural heritage. The military importance of Balasore during Afghan invasions and later under Maratha and British rule was also highlighted. The contributions of Inchudi and Iram during the freedom struggle were described as milestones in Odisha’s history.
The symposium was presided over by the college chairman, Professor Amulya Kumar Parida, who delivered the welcome address. The programme was moderated by Dr. Niranjan Rout, Head of the Department of History and coordinator of the symposium. Among others, Professors Ashok Kumar Mallick, Dr. Susanta Kumar Das, and Lokeshwar Bagarti actively contributed to the discussions. The primary objective of the symposium was to create awareness among students and encourage researchers to explore and document the glorious past of North Odisha.