In recognition of the immense popularity of the famous Sambalpuri song ‘Rangabati’, the State Government on Wednesday renamed its lyricist Mitrabhanu Gauntia’s native village Bilung as ‘Rangabati Bilung’ under Bamra Tehsil in Sambalpur district.
On obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Science and Technology, the State Government rechristened Bilung as ‘Rangabati Bilung’ with effect from Wednesday (July 22), said a notification issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department.
“All rules, instructions in force in this regard shall be amended accordingly by the concerned competent authorities,” the notification stated.
Notably, 77-year-old lyricist Mitrabhanu Gauntia was conferred with Padma Shri award this year. Earlier in 2017, ‘Rangabati’ singer Jitendra Haripal had also been conferred with the Padma award.
Gauntia has also received Odisha State Sangeet Natak Academy Award and Akashvani National Award for Music.
In his comment, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan termed renaming of Bilung village as ‘Rangabati Biung’ as an appropriate compliment to the Rangabati song and its lyricist Gauntia.
He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for renaming Bilung after the popular song.
