Bhubaneswar: Long before Bhubaneswar grew into the bustling capital city it is today, a group of Punjabi families who arrived in Odisha in the aftermath of Partition quietly helped lay the foundations of its development. From constructing some of the city’s most iconic buildings to establishing one of its earliest residential colonies, the Punjabi community played a crucial role in shaping Bhubaneswar’s social and commercial landscape, historian Anil Dhir said during a talk here on Sunday (May 31).
The lesser-known story of the community’s contribution came alive during an engaging session at Café 16 in Satya Nagar as part of the “Ekamra Talkies” series organised by Bakul Foundation and Café 16.
Addressing the gathering, Dhir traced the origins of the Punjabi Colony in Satya Nagar and highlighted the contribution of Punjabi families who settled in the city during its formative years.
“Good morning. Jai Jagannath, Sat Sri Akal. Today, I will speak about a very interesting topic—the Punjabis and the Punjabi Colony,” Dhir said. “We did not have colonies named after other communities, but we had a Punjabi Colony because it was one of the earliest colonies in Bhubaneswar.”