I was born in the year 1953 in Nayagarh District. I was born after 6 years of my parents marriage. For first six years, my parents were issueless. My fathers’ elder brother was staying in Santarapur area. He insisted that his mother should drink the water of Kedar Gouri to be pregnant. Adhering to the norms, my mother drank the water of Kedar Gouri and became pregnant later. Because of this I am named as Kedar Pattnaik. I was born in Kunjabarana Village of Nayagarh which was a part of Puri District then. My father’s name was Bharat Charan Pattnaik and mothers’name was Sabitri Pattnaik. My father has two brothers and three sisters.

I have three brothers. I have two daughters and one son. Since 1972, I have been staying in Bhubaneswar in my own native place.

I completed my school education in Nayagarh District and came to Bhubaneswar in 1969 and joined BJB college. From 1975 to 76, I completed his Masters’ from Vanivihar Bhubaneswar.

My father’s elder brother Sadhu charana Pattnaik was a solder in British Army and was deployed there. After independence he came to Odisha and started his career as a petty contractor. He was in charge of collection of tolls at Gangua bridge which was recently constructed around 1948. Kedar Pattnaik used to stay with his fathers’ elder brother.

I started my professional career in 1976, when I joined as a Lower Division Assistant in Secretariat. My earliest salary was Rs 265/month. I got the post by giving interview. I retired in the year 2012 and since then I have been doing social work. I have been actively busy in promoting welfare for senior citizens. I am also a member of  BJB 1974 Students Association, which often meets every week.

The old Bhubaneswar was a place to reckon with. It was cheap and comfortable to stay at Bhubaneswar. The cost of Mutton was Rs 5 per Kg. The mutton was available in no-1 Market.

In 1949, when the city was being constructed, the labourers as well as traders were invited to settle down and Govt.  gave them lands on nominal price. They in return started business and brought labourers from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh etc. Kaluram & sons, Hans family in Bhubaneswar were the families they brought these labourers to Bhubaneswar who started their jobs in brick making. The Brick making started in the Kuakhai river of Bhubaneswar.

To me, Bhubaneswar did not grow systematically. One part of the city was developed 10 to 15 KM from the core. Administrators believed that this will propel the growth of the city. But infact the administrators brought lot of road side plots and sold them with high value. Even though city was designed alongside with Chandigarh but now Chandigarh is a beautiful city and Bhubaneswar struggles from slum and water logging issues.

There was a canteen as present master canteen square, which used to serve low cost and delicious snacks as morning tiffin to many labour classes.

Governor house square was also there. It was a hilly land which was later razed and Raj Bhawan was constructed. Gopabandhu Chhaka was also there around which OUAT areas grew.  The Rajmahal square has developed which was a square of cabins. Raju Sahu was the person who developed a hotel cum bar there for the first time hence, the square was known as Raj Mahal square.

Among famous personalities, we have seen Biju Pattnaik, Dr.  Harekrushna Mahatab and Biren Mitra. Similarly, there were some communist leaders also were very popular in Bhubaneswar.

I have seen people struggling to get jobs. There were no other options of job in private sector. Some banks also offered jobs but that was not very well paid. Hence, people wanted to do Govt. Jobs and be in it till retirement. Only few Gazettd officers in the secretariat were getting Rs 400 per month.  They were also provided vehicle like ambassador and jeep which were considered as Status Symbol.

People who did not have Govt jobs were doing business. Selling vegetables and grocery items were very popular. Vegetables were supplied from Laxmi Sagar, Sardakanta Balianta area.

Capital Hospital was the largest hospital then. There was also one mission hospital there who used to provide ayurvedic medicine to people.

Rickshaw was very much in existence during 1965. Most of the rickshaw pullers were from South India. They used to stay near Railway station and pull rickshaw. But later around 1975 Rickshaw started vanishing. Bhubaneswar’s terrain was undulating and hence, it was not possible for rickshaw puller to get the rickshaw moving on the terrain.

The no-1 market was beautifully designed at it was divided into Eastern and Western market. There was a Burma General Store, Iswar Das  cloth store, Usha Nayak cloth store and Narula Cloth Store existed. Most the traders were non-odia and they significantly contributed to the growth of Bhubaneswar.

There was a shop in the western market of Unit 1 which was known as Naran Canteen. He used to have south Indian Dosha at 30 paisa per piece. There was Mr. Raghaban south Indian Tiffin Centre in Bapuji Nagar. There was also a Banarasiwala hotel in Bhubaneswar which was very costly. They used to charge more than 75% of what others sell. By 1970,adivasi Padia has developed as a point of Interaction for many during. Bhanjakala Mandap used to have lots of theatres organised. People used to go them. Khandagiri was very popular too, it was very exciting to go their and see saints performing rituals in their ashrams. People used to go to Khandgiri in Rickshaw.

By 1970 roads have developed and Govt busses were regularly plying to places like Bhawanipatana and G. Udyagiri. The cost of ticket from Bhawanipatna was 19 Rupees per person. There were buses playing from Bhubaneswar to Sambalpur, Nayagarh, Kandhamal. The bus stand existed in the area, where present day multi level car parking exists.

Kabadi was not very popular as Bhubaneswar soil was dry and hard. Football was very well organised. There was capital sports which organised a football tournament in Unit1 playground. Players from Old Town, AG and Unit -6 students played football there.

Cricket started appearing after 1970. People were fond of listening to the radio commentary of cricket. AG staff practiced Volley Ball.  AG club people also played Kabaddi to little extent.

Capital Highschool was the very popular school then. BM High School also existed. Then UNIt-1 high school and Unit-6 boys high school and unit-1 girls High school existed side by side. The BJB college started in unit-1 Girls high school. Floods appear in Dayanadi and many villages were affected. But now a days, due to increasing population and increasing water use, the water table is fast decreasing. The population would cross 15 lakhs in this census.

Bhubaneswar also saw a rail accident near poonama gate. One train engine rode over the other. The major damages were done to boggies and track. By 1970 doubling of railway tracks of Bhubaneswar were completed. Janata Express, Puri Howrah, Puri Talcher trains were regularly operated. East coast and madras mail also started operating. GPO was already there. Sub post office was there in Bapuji Nagar too. Colonies were also having sub post office too. Sending letters through post office was only way of communication and it was also revenue generating for postal dept.

There was no Kalyan Mandap earlier. People had to organize the festivals such as marriage, Bratopanayan etc in their backyard only.Unit-8 Kalyan Mandap was first to appear, then Kalyan Mandap was constructed in old town and Chandrasekharpur. They were all used to be managed by Bhubaneswwar NAC.

People Read Samaj and Prajatantra  largely. Nabarabi Magazine was also popular. After 1970, Janhamamu also appeared. The then Bhubaneswar also saw existence of some British time police station. Capital Police Station was also the oldest police station of Bhubaneswar. There were police stations in Balianta and Chandaka too. The people were concerned about education of their children. People used to spend Rs 25.00/- out of their salary of Rs 200/- towards education of their children. There was one convent school in unit 3. The Govt school used to organize entrance and students who did well in the exam got seats. There was One Bellur Matha and there was another mutt near rabi talkies. It still exists.