Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday paid floral tributes at the statue of Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das on the premises of Odisha Legislative Assembly, on his 148th birth anniversary.
“On the occasion of the birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter, a key architect of the formation of a separate Odisha province, a symbol of selfless service and dedicated sacrifice, Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das, I offer my heartfelt tribute and salutations. His profound patriotism, commitment to social reform, and contributions to the fields of education, literature, and journalism will ensure that he remains forever remembered and revered,” the CM also posted on X earlier in the day.
Taking to his X handle, Leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik also wrote: “On the birth anniversary of Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das, the life force of the Odia community, I offer my respectful homage. He dedicated his life to the service of the people. Along with enriching the Odia language and literature, his life of selfless sacrifice for the upliftment of the people remains an eternal source of inspiration.”
Remembering Utkalmani
Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das was born on October 9, 1877, at Suando under Satybadi police limits in Puri. He was a great social reformer and harbinger of a new social order. His crusade against untouchability, advocacy of widow remarriage, campaign for literacy, new model of education, stress on both rights and duties, emphasis on women education, particularly vocational training and above all a deep commitment and compassion for the poor and destitute have immortalized him in Odisha and India.
He was committed to serve the poor and destitute. Ignoring his ailing son, he rushed the flood-affected areas without delay to provide relief. “There are so many to look after my son. But, there are so many people affected by the devastating floods. It is my duty to go there rather than attend to my son here. Lord Jagannath will take care of my son,” he had said.
During his absence, his son died.
His Contribution To Journalism
In the realm of Journalism, Gopabandhu Das started the weekly newspaper ‘Samaj’ on October 4, 1919. It has been a leading daily newspaper in Odisha.
Before ‘Samaj’ he had also published another monthly magazine named ‘Satyabadi’ in the year 1914.
A Writer & A Poet
He was an eminent writer and poet. Some of his well-known poems are ‘Dharmapada’, ‘Bandi Ra Atma Katha’, ‘Kara Kabita’.
His Contribution As An Educationist
He realised that without education, people would not be aware of their freedom and duty towards the nation. A school was established at Satyabadi in Puri. Gopabandhu became the secretary of the school. Pandit Nilakantha Das, Pandit Godavarish Misra, Acharya Harihar Das, Pandit Krupasindhu Mishra, Pandit Basudev Mohapatra and Shri Ramachandra Rath offered their services.
His Political Career
Gopabandhu was a member of the Old Bihar and Orissa Legislative Council for four years from 1917 to 1920.
He was the first leader from Odisha to organise the Orissa Provincial Committee. He became the first president of the Congress party in Odisha and brought Gandhiji to Odisha in 1921 to further the cause of Non-Cooperation Movement.
Mahatma Gandhi’s Observations…
Gopabandhu Das’ decision to survive only on rice and dal after the noncooperation movement stunned Mahatma Gandhi. When Gandhiji asked him “…whether this poor diet would not affect his health”, Gopabandhu Das replied, “Should we not submit to this privation for the sake of Swaraj?”
In his article “My Orissa Tour” written in Navajivan on April 10, 1921, he exclaimed at Gopabandhu Das’ reply and observed, “I was silenced”.
Heaping high praise on him, the Mahatma noted, “if there were 100 such people in the country, Swaraj would be certain over a period of one year”.
He was impressed by Gopabandhu’s high ideals and supreme selflessness,