Odisha Forum

There's an air of efficiency to everything in Bhubaneswar. On a visit to the state secretariat there, I couldn't help comparing it to our Writers' Building. A well-manicured, lush garden greets visitors, unlike the chaos that reigns supreme outside Writers'. Inside, I was surprised by the absence of any crowds. There were no pot-bellied cops lounging around, no pan-chewing hangers-on, no parasitic touts, no babus scurrying around with bulky files, no peons chatting in the corridors and loud crowds waiting to gain entry to meet ministers and bureaucrats. Even the Chief Minister's Secretariat looked uncluttered, free of fixers and the babus all seemed to be working.

There's a belief among all in Orissa that their state is poised to make great strides in social and economic advancement. They passionately believe in it. And they're working towards it honestly and efficiently. Everyone, or at least a majority, is striving to contribute towards making their state economically and socially strong. This is a shared vision and there's a sense of mission. The Orissa of those starvation deaths at Kalahandi is history. The new Orissa is full of promise.