The patriotic song Bande Utkal Janani,” which has inspired Odias since 1912, was on Sunday accorded the status of the state anthem.

A special cabinet meeting called by chief minister Naveen Patnaik decided to confer the status on the song that reverberated in several parts of the globe on May 30 when Odias living across the world sung it at the call of the chief minister to express solidarity with the Covid warriors of the state.

As the clock struck 5.30 in the evening that day, people stood up in their homes and sung Bande Utkal Janani penned by Kanta Kabi Laxmikanta Mohapatra during the freedom struggle.

Around 10 lakh people had posted on social media video clips showing singing the song. Naveen had noted their gesture with a sense of gratitude.

Briefing mediapersons about the cabinet’s decision, parliamentary affairs minister Bikram Keshari Arukh said: “The song will now be played at all government programmes. Everyone except the old, infirm, small children and pregnant women will have to stand up when it is played. School and mass education and higher education departments have been asked to include the song in the school and college curriculum.”

The song reflects Odia self- respect and the dignity and confidence of its people. It calls upon the people of the state to hold their heads high instead of feeling insecure. It was first sung at the conference of Utkal Sammilani, the organisation that spearheaded the movement for an independent Odisha, at its Balasore conference in 1912.

It helped unite the people of Odisha which became a separate state on April 1, 1936.