Jeypore, June 28, (OT Webdesk) — The 157th birth anniversary of Maharaja Vikram Dev Varma was commemorated across Odisha today, as scholars, cultural enthusiasts, and public leaders paid tribute to the legendary monarch credited with championing Odia identity and the formation of a separate Odisha state.
Born in 1869 in Madugula, Maharaja Vikram Dev rose from a troubled childhood to become a respected dramatist, scholar, and cultural reformer.
Fluent in Odia, Sanskrit, and Telugu, he authored numerous literary works and supported Odia publications, including the “Prajabani” weekly and Gopal Chandra Praharaj’s Odia dictionary.
As the last ceremonial king of Jeypore, Vikram Dev played an instrumental role in the Utkal Sammilani movement. He united Odias in the Madras Presidency under one voice, advocating for linguistic and cultural preservation.
His efforts in promoting Odia as a state language and backing Odisha’s statehood remain defining contributions to the region’s history.
In addition to his political and cultural activism, he was a patron of education and fine arts. Odisha’s first fine arts institute in Jeypore and the current Vikram Dev University are enduring testaments to his legacy.
He was lauded as a “Sahitya Samrat” and admired by national figures like Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and Sarojini Naidu.
Maharaja Vikram Dev passed away in 1952, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, intellect, and Odia pride. On this occasion, Odisha salutes one of its most revered sons.
