Kosal
Kosal, also known as Dakhin Kosal, Kosala or Koshal, is the ancient name of present day’s Western Orissa and Chhattisgarh state, which is referenced many times in Indian epics like the Puranas, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.Kosal was surrounded by Radha (comprising present day Mayurbhanj district in Orissa, and Midnapur and Hugli district of in West Bengal) on the east. River Brahmaniwas is its eastern border. On the west of Kosal, the Rashtrikas were ruling their kingdom. Maikhala range and River Sionath were the western borders of Kosal.River Godavari and Indravati were bordering Kosal on the south and separating it from the Andhra. In the north river Kanahar, the tributary of river Shon was separating Kosal from Magadh. In medieval period this western Orissa region was known as Hirakhand or Samalpur kingdom.
The Chinese philosopher, Huen Tsang, has mentioned in his book that from Kalinga he went north-west for 1800 li to Kosal, a country which was more than 6000 li in circuit, and its capital was above 40 li in circuit. It is further been noted that the country was called “South Kosal“, apparently to distinguish from the Kosal in North.
The Kosal region in Orissa state lies between 19° 37’- 23° N latitude and 82° 28’- 85° 22’ E longitudes comprising the districts of Sundargad, Jharsuguda, Debgad, Samalpur, Bargad, Sonepur, Baud, Balangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Aathmallik sub-division of Angul district. and Kashipur block of Rayagad district. It is surrounded by Jharkhand state on the north, on the east by the dist of Kendujhar, Angul and Kandhamal; on the south by Rayagada, Koraput and on the west by Chhattisgarh state.
The total area of Kosal is 55,693.06 km2 (excluding the area of Athmallik sub-division of Angul district). It comprises 32.35% of the total area of Orissa state. The cultivable area in this part of state is 15,452 km2 and irrigated area is 2,199 km2.
Total population : 1,00, 30,999 (2001 census)
Rural population : 63.7% of the total population
Urban population : 36.3% of the population
Literacy : 55.50%
Male Female ratio : 1000:976
These districts occupy 32.35% of the total geographical area (excluding Athmallik as data is not available) and 24.55% of the total population of Orissa. British Commissioner Hunter Sahib had coined the term Western Orissa for the first time when it became part of newly formed Orissa division of East India Co in 1905 AD. This geographical area is also recognised by state government of Orissa as the area under Western Orissa development council (WODC).
Many of the common generalizations of history that are made about Orissa do not seem to be applied to this region. Its different historical background and geographical location has helped it to develop a distinct cultural identity, language, social behavior and practice of its own which makes it different from the rest of the state. The language spoken throughout this stretch is popularly known as “Samalpuri” or “Sambalpuri”, which is way apart from the state official language “Oriya” by means of vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. People use Oriya as a medium of education in school whereas for day to day life they use Samalpuri. It becomes very difficult for kids to learn and acquire a new language other than their mother tongue at an early stage. There is a consciousness growing among intellectual mass of Western Orissa to recognise this language in the 8th schedule of the Indian constitution as Kosli or Samalpuri.
Ex-Member of Parliament from Debgarh Mr SriBallbha Panigrahi and Ex-Member of Parliament from Sambalpurconstituency Sri Prasanna Acharya have raised their voice for this cause in two different instances in the Parliament (Lok Sabha).
The language is transforming rapidly from a speaking language to a full fledge one. So many poets, writers have already written many great epics in this language. This Kosli language has cross border presence and spoken widely in Saraipali, Basna, Sarangad, Raigad, Jaspore area of Chhattishgarh state and some part in Jharkhand state too. Within the Orissa state, it is spoken in some part of Keojhar, Nabarangpur districts, Niyamagiri area in Rayagada dist and also spoken by tribal of Daspalla region in Nayagarh dist other than the core Kosli belt such as Sundargad, Jharsuguda, Debgad, Samalpur, Bargad, Sonepur, Baudh, Balangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi and Athhamallik sub-division in Angul dist.
This region is famous for its world famous Sambalpuri hand-looms and vibrant rhythmic folk music popularly known asSamalpuri geet or gana.
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