Oriya literature and the Jagannath cult, 1866-1936

Thesis

This work on 'Oriya Literature and the Jagannath Cult, 1866- 1936: Quest for Identity' studies the question of Oriya identity in cultural and religious terms. As the title suggests, the Oriya literature and the Jagannath cult during the period, 1866-1936, have been studied and analysed in order to demonstrate how Oriya identity has been progressively constituted and reflected in them. My work departs from earlier works in a number of ways. The most important departure is the study of Oriya identity from the religio-cultural perspective instead of studying political identity-formations which have already been dealt with at great length in some earlier works. One more important feature of my work is the study of the Jagannath cult in the light of Oriya identity- a question of interrelation hitherto neglected by scholars. Thus, my thesis is exclusively focused on Oriya identity- how it manifested itself in the Oriya literature and the Jagannath cult.

For the purpose, I have first shown in my second chapter how a consciousness about Orissa and Oriya, however rudimentary it might have been, was present in the early Oriya literature and in the Jagannath cult at its earlier stage of evolution. This rudimentary consciousness took the form of identity towards the second part of the 19th century under the compulsion of some historical forces that arose out of British colonialism-imperialism.

In my chapters on the Oriya literature, I have shown from the writings of selected, representative authors how Orissan history, tradition, legend, nature, the Indian link and even externalised 'Other' have been used and constructed in definition of Oriya identity. A major finding of my thesis is the gradual shift in the treatment of Oriya identity from the inward-looking, reactionary approach to a broadbased, expansive perspective due to changes in the political scenario of Orissa and the development of new, liberal ideas. In my discussion on the Jagannath cult, I have established that Oriya religious identity came to be Jagannath-centred during the period of our study. In order to prove it, while discussing various dynamic aspects of the cult and their particular significance in transforming it to a distinct Oriya faith, I have also studied how Lord Jagannath and His cult were constructed and construed in Oriya literary traditions and historiographical writings and narratives.

Finally, I have tried to establish a causal connection between Oriya identity and the political process of Orissa during the period of study.

Authors: Behera, S

• Alternative title: quest for identity
• Publication date: 1999
• DOI: 10.5287/ora-zobjrz8nv
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cult; History and criticism; Oriya (Indic people); Jagannātha (Hindu deity); India; Orissa (India); Orissa; Oriya literature; Ethnicity; Ethnicity in literature; Ethnic identity