Bhubaneswar: Odisha paid rich tributes to ‘Utkalmani’ Gopabandhu Das on his 149th birth anniversary on Friday, with leaders across the political spectrum participating in commemorative programmes held across the state.
Remembering Gopabandhu Das, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati said that his contributions to the freedom struggle, selfless service, and noble endeavours to enrich the Odia language and literature will “forever keep him in our cherished memory”.
ଉତ୍କଳମଣି ପଣ୍ଡିତ ଗୋପବନ୍ଧୁ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଜୟନ୍ତୀରେ ମହାମହିମ ରାଜ୍ୟପାଳ ଡ଼ଃ ହରି ବାବୁ କମ୍ଭମପାଟି ଭକ୍ତିପୂତ ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି ଅର୍ପଣ କରିଛନ୍ତି । ସ୍ୱାଧୀନତା ସଂଗ୍ରାମରେ ତାଙ୍କର ଅବଦାନ, ନିଃସ୍ୱାର୍ଥପର ସେବା ଏବଂ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷା ଓ ସାହିତ୍ୟକୁ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ କରିବାରେ ମହନୀୟ ଉଦ୍ୟମ ପାଇଁ ସେ ସଦା ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ହୋଇରହିବେ ବୋଲି ମାନ୍ୟବର ରାଜ୍ୟପାଳ କହିଛନ୍ତି।
— Governor Odisha (@GovernorOdisha) October 9, 2026
Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and others offered floral tributes at the statue of Gopabandhu on the Assembly premises.
Hailing Gopabandhu Das as a champion of selfless service, the Chief Minister said his contribution to the movement for a separate Odisha province continues to inspire people.
“Humble tributes to Utkalamani Pandit Gopabandhu Das on his birth anniversary. A freedom fighter, social reformer and champion of selfless service, his contribution to the movement for a separate Odisha Province and his lifelong dedication to public welfare continue to inspire generations,” Majhi said in a post on X.
ମହାନ ସ୍ୱାଧୀନତା ସଂଗ୍ରାମୀ, ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ଓଡ଼ିଶା ପ୍ରଦେଶ ଗଠନର ଅନ୍ୟତମ କର୍ଣ୍ଣଧାର, ନିଃସ୍ୱାର୍ଥପର ସେବା ଓ ଉତ୍ସର୍ଗୀକୃତ ତ୍ୟାଗର ପ୍ରତୀକ, ଉତ୍କଳମଣି ପଣ୍ଡିତ ଗୋପବନ୍ଧୁ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଜୟନ୍ତୀ ଅବସରରେ ଭକ୍ତିପୂତ ପ୍ରଣାମ।
Humble tributes to Utkalamani Pandit Gopabandhu Das on his birth anniversary. A freedom fighter, social reformer and champion of selfless service, his contribution to the movement for a separate Odisha Province and his lifelong dedication to public welfare continue to inspire generations.
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) October 9, 2026
Leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik said, “On the birth anniversary of Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das, the great symbol of service and sacrifice, I offer my heartfelt tribute. His unparalleled contributions to enriching the nation’s freedom struggle along with social reforms, journalism, and Odia literature are invaluable. The ideals he exemplified remain an eternal source of inspiration.”
State Congress president Bhakta Charan Das also paid floral tributes to the social reformer at the Gopabandhu Chowk in Bhubaneswar.
“His lifelong dedication to public service, social reform and the welfare of the people remains an enduring source of inspiration for generations… His unforgettable contributions in the fields of education, journalism, and social reform, along with his unwavering dedication to public service, will forever inspire future generations,” he said.
Gopabandhu Das was born on October 9, 1877, in Puri district and was bestowed with the title ‘Utkalmani’ (Gem of Odisha) by Prafulla Chandra Roy, a prominent Bengali chemist and educationist, for his selfless service to the people of Odisha.
He was the first President of the Congress party in Odisha in 1920 and continued in that post till 1928. He died after prolonged illness on July 17, 1928.