HISTORY OF
The word “Katak” etymologically
means army cantonment and also the capital city. The history of
The city of
In the remote past Cuttack was connected
both by land routes and waterways with the renowned medieval ports like
Chelitalo,Palur and Tarmalipti.Although politically
Cuttack was not that significant before the eight century A.D>,but it was a
flourishing mart of Eastern trade.However,Cuttack became a capital city as the
end of the 10th centuary A.D.during the reign of somavanansi dynasty
of Odisha.
The importance of
After the Ganges,Odisha passed
intothe hands of the Gajapati under whom
The Afghans however were not
destined to rule Odisha and they were soon ousted by the Imperial Mughals.Cuttack continued to be the capital of Mughal Odisha and Abul Fazl celearly
mentions that Mughal Governor was residing in that city.
During the rule of Marathas,
As per the treaty of deogaon,Cuttack came under British occupation in 1803 and the
Enhlish set themselves to the task of consolidation and land revenue administration.As an after effect of
the devastating famine of 1866,the government gave serious consideration to
remove the isolation of Cuttack from the outsite world and at the same time to
prevent the recurrence of such calamities in future. Along with several water
ways,roads were also opened during the tater part of
the 19th century toprovide
The first Newspaper of Odisha “UtkalDipika” was
publish by the Cuttack printing Company due to the efforts of Gourisankar Ray
in 1866.There was a great change in the educational scenario of Cuttack after
British occupation with the establishment of first Government English school in
1841 and it slowly progressed as the Higher English school unitil the famine of
1886.Then the school was converted into a college with intermediate teaching in
1868 which in due course of time took the name of Ravenshaw college. Ravenshaw college was coverted to Ravenshaw University on 15th
November 2006.Odisha Medical was established in 1875 following the
establishment of Cuttack general hospital in 1874.The Cuttack Municipality came
into existence in 1876.In 1923 two new educational insituions were opened in
Cuttack.One was Cuttack Training College and the other wos Odisha School of
Engineering,which developed out of the old survey school separated from the Ravenshaw College in 1915 and from
the Government workshop located at jobra.
During Freedom Struggle,Swaraj Ashram of Sahebazada Bazar was the center of all
nationalist activities. The Ashram is place of pilgrimage for all Gandhites as
Gandhiji indoctrinated the youths of Odisha with the mantra of truth and
nonviolence.
Cuttack has been enjoying all along
the unique privilege of being the administrative and commercial nerve center of
Odisha .It was the seat of the commissioner of Odisha Division till 1936 and
with the formation of the province of Odisha in that year it was exalted to be
the head quarter ofthenew province.the historic Lalbagh place which was being
occupied by the commissinor became the Governor House.Now it was been converted
to children,s hospital called “Sishu Bhawan “A
stadium know as the Barabiti Stadium has
been built on the famous Killa Maidan near the Barabati fort.The High court
came into existence in 1948 and its building is another impressive structure of
indo-European style.In 1948 Akasvani (All India
Radio)was established in the old Madhupur building of Cuttack.
The city is reputed all over the
country for its exquisite and delicate filigree works,artistic
horn works, fine and multi-coloured textile products.
The state government finally
selected Bhubaneswar situated at a diatance of eighteen miles from Cuttack as
its new capital in accordance with the plan of grater Cuttack.Though
Bhubaneswer has been made the new capital of Odisha,still
then ,Cuttack acts as bridge linking the past ,present and future of state’s
History and Heritage.Till the date is ranked sa one of the old cities of India
with her life spread over more than thousand years being famous as the :Millennium City”.
COMPILED BY :
Dr. S.Chand
Dr. S. Tripathy
PG Dept. of History ,