Bissam Cuttack

Bishama Katek ବିଷମ କଟକ - బిసమ్ కటక్
town
Bishama Katek Show map of Odisha Bishama Katek Show map of India Location in Odisha, India
Coordinates: 19°31′N 83°31′E / 19.52°N 83.52°E / 19.52; 83.52Coordinates: 19°31′N 83°31′E / 19.52°N 83.52°E / 19.52; 83.52
Country	India
State	Odisha
District	Rayagada
Elevation	342 m (1,122 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	7,408
Languages
• Official	Oriya , English
• Other	Telugu
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Vehicle registration	OD
Website	odisha.gov.in

Bishama Katek (also known as Bissam-Cuttack) is a census town in Rayagada district in the state of Odisha, India. It is one of the identified Tourist Centres^[1](scenic spot) of odisha.

Geography

Bishama Katek is located at 19°31′N 83°31′E / 19.52°N 83.52°E / 19.52; 83.52.^[2] It has an average elevation of 342 m (1,122 ft). Bissam Cuttack is surrounded by the great Niyamgiri Hill. Small canals like Markama Nala, Mundabandha Nala, Gate Nala and Rata Tikiri Nala surrounds the village in 4 directions of this Village.

History

During the rule of Gangavansis (8th and 9th centuries) it was under the feudatory chief of Kalinga-Utkal empire Dadarnav Dev of Gudari katak. One stone scripture of 12th century, collected by historian Shri Sriranga Nayak of Bissam cuttack, supports the statement. As per the research work done by Padmashree Dr. Satyanarayana Rajguru,^[3] an eminent personality of Ganjam district and the then asst of Kalinga Historical Research society, King Paramardin Dev (who was the ruler of the then Kalinga-Utkal) established a new sub-capital as well as a fort at Bissamcuttack for better administration of the western- Utkal i.e. Phulbani and kalahandi area. When the area was attacked frequently by the rulers of Chedi dynasty, he shifted the sub-capital to Gudari Katak from Bissam cuttack.^[4]

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[5] Bishama Katek had a population of 7407. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Bishama Katek has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 76% and female literacy of 58%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.The latest census report 2011 available in the Government of India website http://www.censusindia.gov.in/PopulationFinder/Population_Finder.aspx shows that the total population of the village is 7408 out of which male population is 3723 and the female population is 3685.Maa Markama is the prime Goddess of Bissam Cuttack. There is a beautiful Temple, with its new look, for her.The temple of Maa Karkama is situated by the temple of Maa markama. There is a beautiful spring at chatikona and Siva Temple beside it. Maa Markama College and Maa Markama degree college is the only college here.This college has NCC and NSS units. New Life English medium school, Navodaya School, Govt. High School, Saraswati Vidya Mandir are the educational institutes available. The Secondary training school now renamed as the District Institute of Educational Training, Rayagada at Bissam Cuttack is a well known teacher training school in Odisha. Students from every nook and corner come to get training here each year.There is a JMFC court and a jail.It also has a fire station. Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is very famous. Ganesh Puja, Gajalaxmi Puja and Diwali is grandly celebrated.A personal museum cum library (in the name of "ADIKANDA SANGRAHALAYA")^[6] with a good number of unpublished writings and some antique objects relating to the history of Bissamcuttack, owned by Sri Sriranga Nayak (retd. Hindi teacher of Bissamcuttack), is the first of its kind in Rayagada district.It has become a unique asset for research scholars in the country and abroad for their research work in the field of history as well as language .

Temples of divinity

Maa Markama Temple in a new look at Bissam Cuttack

A no. of temples enhance the cultural beauty of the village. They are;

• The temple of Lord Jagannath by the main road,
• The Maa Markama Temple by the main road. Bissam cuttack is well known in the state of Odisha as the only abode of Goddess Markama & Karkama. The temple has got a new look meanwhile,
• The temple of Maa Karkama beside the temple of Maa markama,
• The temple of Grama devati by the main road,
• The temple of Lord shiva near the temple of Jagannath,
• Another temple of lord Shiva near sishu mandir,
• The temple of Radhakanta by the main road,
• The temple of Lord Hanuman near the DIET, Rayagada.
• The temple of Gayatri near the temple of Jagannath,
• The Lord Rama temple beside the Rayagada-Bissamcuttack Road,
• The Mahima temple of Bhimabhoi in front of Rama mandir,
• The temple of Lord Shiva near Chatikona, about 7 km away from Bissamcuttack.
• The temple of Niyama Raja near Mundabandha Canal.
• The temple of Sai Baba near the temple of Lord Jagannath.
• The Lord Jagannath temple newly built in Durgi-odisha.

Politics

Current MLA from Bissam-Cuttack (ST) Assembly Constituency is Jagannath Saraka (won by: 29186 votes) of BJD, who won the seat in State elections of 2014 for the first time. Previous MLA from this seat include Dambarudhar Ulaka who won this seat in 2009 through INC.^[7]

Bissam-Cuttack is part of Koraput (Lok Sabha constituency).^[8]

References