Odisha to Establish Paika Academy for Historic Research and Training

Bhubaneswar: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has given the green light for the establishment of the Odisha Paika Academy and Research Centre in the Khurda district. This significant initiative, falling under the purview of the Odia Language, Literature, and Culture department, draws inspiration from the Guru Kelu Charan Mahapatra Odissi Research Centre.

Initially, the Paika Academy will operate from Gada Khurda while the selection of a suitable location for its permanent structure is pending. The Khurda collector has been tasked with submitting a comprehensive project report promptly, as per a release from the Chief Minister’s office.

The primary goal of the academy is to foster research and provide training in the study of the Paika Bidroha, an armed uprising led by the warriors of Khurda against British colonial rule in 1817. This significant historical event, also known as the sepoy mutiny, is recognized as the first armed rebellion against the British in India.

Chief Minister Patnaik envisions that the academy will serve as a catalyst for raising awareness about the remarkable lives and sacrifices made by the Paikas in their resistance against British rule.