Bhubaneswar: Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Mayor Subhash Chandra Singh has written to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, seeking the renaming of Cuttack as ‘Katak’, citing it as the city’s original and historically authentic name.
In his letter, the Mayor referred to archival records preserved at the Records Department of Ravenshaw College, which, he said, clearly mention “Katak” as the traditional name of the city. Singh noted that these historical references have also been highlighted in newspapers, bringing the issue into wider public discourse.
Arguing that the restoration of the original name would help preserve Odisha’s cultural heritage and strengthen local identity, the Mayor urged the state government to initiate a formal process to examine the proposal. He suggested a review of archival sources and consultations with historians, cultural organisations and local communities before arriving at a final decision.
Singh also sought the government’s intervention to take necessary administrative and legislative steps if the proposal is approved, including issuing official notifications, amending gazette records and updating signage.
The demand comes close on the heels of the Odisha government’s recent move to revise the English spellings of 24 place names across the state to better reflect their original Odia forms, indicating a broader push towards cultural and linguistic restoration.
-OdishaAge
