Thread by @KalingaArya

#Thread
What is special in Odisha's history which is unique/rarely found elsewhere in India.
1. A deity being officially considered as d King of d kingdom n d ruler as his deputy(Rauta) for hundreds of years from around 1200 AD till monarchy ended in Odisha. What surprising 1/n

Is that it was not something which was done for some ceremonial purpose. The people of Odisha used to consider the same in those time period mentioned.
2. There were upto 6 female rulers of Bhaumakara dynasty who ruled Odisha for years. This kind of example is rare in India 2/n

3.Odisha under E. Ganga n Suryavanshi Gajapatis withstood Islamic invasion frm 1200 to 1568, even though north, south & west of it were occupied by Turaskas very early. As per RCM E. Ganga was the only Major dynasty wch withstood Islamic invasion when all of India perished 3/n

4. We all know China today produces low-cost goods and captures markets across the world and earns billions. It was just opposite centuries ago. In 1330 a Chinese author named Wang tu Yuan wrote Kalinga used to produced such low cost goods that 9 out of 10 Chinese 4/n

Sailors didn't wish to return back to their own country. Kalingans were rich by selling those products elsewhere.
5. Kalingans are said to be the first seafarers of East coast who established colonies in south east asia. There are traditions in Java, Burma etc which says so. 5/n

They also reached Srilanka, Maldives etc and started ruling there as well.
6. During peak of Gajapati Kapilendra Deva's reign(around 1464) the Odia empire was arguably the largest Hindu empire of India(ganga to Ramsethu) post starting of Islamic rule in India till Marathas 6/n

Odisha's temples follow a unique form of architecture which is different from both north and south. That is called Kalinga architecture style. Some scholars do say that it is part of Nagara architecture style. But, most don't agree due to its unique appearance. 7/n

1857 sepoy mutiny is usually said to be the first war of independence is usually. But, officially Paika Bidroha of Odisha in 1817 is officially (as per GOI) the first war of Independence in India. 8/n jagranjosh.com/current-affair…

The Bikramkhol inscription present in Jharsuguda district of Odisha is said to be written in a script which is an intermediary between the Indus script and Brahmi as per KP Jaiswal. It proves continuity of Indian civilization contrary to some propaganda by some vested interest9/n

During the rule of Gajapati Mukundadeva, there was a huge palace in Barabati fort. The interesting fact about it is that it was a 9 storey building. Probably it is an uniquely tall palace of its time(1560-68). 10/n

In almost all probability the first known Nataraja image found in India is the image attached to Asanpat inscription in Keonjhar district of Odisha. This inscription was made by Naga king Shatrubhanja Naga somewhere before begining of Gupta rule. 11/n