I Belonged to Jajpur District. My forefathers belonged to Dhaka. Since last 300 years, they have shifted to India. Since last 13 generation we have been staying in Odisha. We were initially staying in Burdman District of West Bengal. Later my grandfather etc shifted to Odisha. Britishers gave them Jamindary and we were allowed to settle in the Jajpur area. I was born on 16th March 1956 at Jajpur. I came to Bhubaneswar in 1960. My father was a freedom fighter. My elder brother was staying in 1957. I stayed at the area in the Govt Quarter, which was located at the area where the present day Police Commissionrate’s Office exist. My elder brother was a typist in the Secretariat.
I was staying near the 120 Battalion Quarters, which was earlier his elder brothers’ quarter. Once his brother retired, he stayed in the same quarter. They stayed in the same quarter for more than 50 years. From 2017, I am staying at my own residence in Saheed nagar.
My father was having one elder brother. I have 5 brothers and 2 sisters. Now only two brothers and a sister survived. Now we are staying in a joint family at a house, which was located at Sahid Nagar and was constructed in the year 1970.
I came to Bhubaneswar in the year 1956 and got admitted to Unit-3 UP School. From 1965 to 1972, I completed my High school education from capital High school. From 1972 to 1976, I went on to complete my graduation from BJB College. I immediately got a chance to join the Secretariat as a typist. My initial salary was Rs 255 per month. I stay in a joint family in Saheed nagar post retirement is not actively involved in any activities.
I remember, cost of living in Bhubaneswar was very less. Rice sold from Rs 0.75 to Rs.1.00/ kilo. Wheat was crushed to produce atta. The per Kg atta cost around Rs 1.00. A whole truck load of sand cost Rs 25. People did not have enough saving. One bullock cart load of firewood cost Rs10.00/-. The quantity of those firewood was around 2 quintal and it was enough for two to three months. Similarly, 2400 sq GA land was sold at Rs 700/-. Mutton Sold Rs 5/Kg. A meal cost 45 to 65 paisa. The rent in Bhubaneswar was Rs 5.00 to Rs 9.00 only per house per month. The construction cost of a 2BHK was only Rs 11,000.
When I arrived at Bhubaneswar, it has 6 units by 1970. Later, Unit-7, Unit-8 , Unit-9 etc. were developed. Then by 1975, other areas came up in the map of Bhubaneswar.Old Town Chhaka, Sanitarium Chhaka, Siripur Chhaka, Governor house Chhak existed.
All units were connected with narrow black top road. There are two major roads such as National Highway that connects Bhubaneswar with Cuttack upto Vanivihar and Cuttack Road that connects Rasulgad with Kalapana Square existed.
Debu Bose, Parbati Ghosh were very popular in those times among people.
Many people did not have appropriate jobs. Apart from Govt officials, people who stayed in the villages of Nayapalli, Jagamara Etc were having no regular income. They sell vegetables and sell fire-woods which are collected from Forests. Most of the people, who stayed in Quarters’ those days, used to have farming in their own backyard. They used to grow organic vegetables in their compound. People used to cultivate maize and Patato in their own background.
Capital hospital was only large medical in that time. All Units were having small Dispensaries which were later converted to PHC. Doctors were not interested to do private practice in that time. Mahamaya was a big medical store near master canteen square.
Jatra was very popular in Bhubaneswar. The area where the present day BMC office existed was a huge open space where Opera Parties come and perform. One Nageshpur Jatra Party & Tarapur Opera was very popular in Bhubaneswar which used to organize shows every year for 6 to 7 nights consecutively.
In Rupa Mandir Film hall people used to sit on the ground on a dari on front and used to watch movies. The cost of the tickets was less than one rupee. Earlier Ravi talkies were there. Then Kalpana & Sriya talkies developed later on.
Regular bus services were there from Bhubaneswar to other places. All of them were Govt buses. Private buses plied after 1975 only. The cost of the ticket was less than 1 rupee to Cuttack and Rs 5 rupee to Jajpur town. After 1991, autos started appearing in Bhubaneswar. Some people also brought bullet and Yezdi motor cycle . The costs of the motor cycles were limited to Rs 5000.
The current day IG park was parade ground. It used to host three major leagues such inter school, inter college and senior division league. Manoranjan Mohanty, Narendra Sethi, Suvendu Pattanaik were very well known footballer of the city. If a game is organised more than 2000 people at least used to gather to watch a match.
By 1972, Capital boys High school existed in Unit-2 and Capital Girls High School existed in Unit-3. Capital High School and BM High School too existed. BJB College, OUAT and RD Women’s colleges were earlier higher education set ups that existed in the Capital of Bhubaneswar.
Street light existed in major Chhakas. Tube lights were there on poles in every 300 to 400 metre.
There was one Kundu babu who used to give Homeopathy medicine to people and he has his clinic in western tower of Unit -1. Ananta Mishra was another Homeopathic Doctor who used to give homeopathy medicine.
Bibekananda Library was only library in Bhubaneswar which was located in the Ramakrishna Mission. Later library came up in Suchana Bhawan. Samaj, Prajatantra were initial news papers people were fond of. The Pragatibadi and The Dharitri later appeared. Other language news papers were not very popular.
There was one Kashmir hotel in Unit-4. Hotel Raj Mahal and Hotel Banarasiwala existed in Raj Mahal. In secretariat, a hotel too existed. A cup of tea sold 10 paise percup. Narayan Mohapatra Canteen existed near western canteen. Dalei Canteen existed outside the unit-1 bus stand.
People used to go to Nandankanan, Dhauli etc for picnic. Rs 10.00/- per was collected per head for picnic purpose.
Bhubaneswar had two Burial Grounds. Satya Nagar and Garabadu Burial Grounds in Old town have already there by 1965.
By 1980, the slums have started developing. In 1995, around 101 slums were recognized and permanent set ups were given to these slums. But later situation changed as drugs entered to Bhubaneswar. Now, slum dwellers are having drugs and stealing the goods of people.
At that time, people were more concerned to get a job. Govt job was available largely and the selection was on a fare basis. People did not fear and people can travel mid night without fear.
