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A leading socio-cultural organisation in Orissa wants the state to be renamed as 'Jagannath Desh'.
Lord Jagannath is the presiding deity of the state and epitomizes the culture of Orissa, Nakul Naik, president of the organisation, also called Jagannath Desh, said on Monday.
The organisation counts Biju Janata Dal Member of Parliament Prasanna Patsani as one of its members.
The executive body of the association has passed a unanimous resolution to that effect and has also submitted memorandums to the state and central government, he told rediff.com.
Naik said that the present name, Orissa, has no historical or cultural basis. In the 15 century, a Muslim ruler called the state as Jajnagar-Odvisa.
In 1936, the British government named the state as Orissa, ignoring the demands of local leaders to name it as 'Utkal Desh' or 'Kalinga', he said.
Naik's outfit is not the only one which wants the state renamed.
'Ama Odisha', a socio-cultural organisation led by the editor of daily Sambad Saumaya Ranjan Patnaik, wants it to be renamed as 'Odisha'.
Atal Sena, an organisation named after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, wants it to be renamed as 'Utkal' while the Kalinga Sena prefers the name 'Kalinga'.
In western Orissa, several socio-cultural organisations have been demanding a separate state, to be named as 'Kosala'.
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