The Making of Modern Odia Identity and Print Media in 19th Century

Abstract

This article chalks out the symbiotic relationship between media and nationalism in the context of modernity. There are certain
basic pre-requisites required for the advent of modernity with media being one. Media creates the forum for growth of nationalism as pointed out by Anderson. I take the case of 19th century Odisha which can be considered as the period of awakening for the given society. This period saw the growth of Odia nationalism, which preceded Indian nationalism in the context of Odisha owing to the presence of a robust print media that aimed at creating a political identity by striving for unification of Odisha. Here, we take a look in the development of print media situating it within a particular historical and
social milieu.