Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday informed about the central government’s plans for a national celebration of 125th birth anniversary of ‘Utkal Keshari’ Harekrushna Mahatab, the first CM of Odisha in independent India.
“This is a great tribute to the legendary nationalist leader of Odisha and a testament to Odia Asmita,” Majhi posted on X, while expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
This came two days after the Odisha government announced year-long celebration of Mahatab Jayanti. A meeting of a committee of Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department has decided to organise several programmes on the visionary national leader and his contributions to promote Odisha and its culture. A biopic on Mahatab, considered to be the architect of modern Odisha, will be exhibited in schools, colleges and universities.
A national seminar on his life and contributions is also being planned in Bhubaneswar, besides a three-day state-level function, from November 23 to 25 to commemorate the freedom fighter. It has also decided to establish a memorial museum at Mahtab’s birthplace Agarapada in Bhadrak district, install his statue and develop the site as a tourist destination.
Born on November 21, 1899, Mahatab was one of the 299 members of India’s first constituent assembly. The Congressman, who took over as chief minister on April 23, 1946, was keen for merger of 26 Odia-speaking princely states, known as ‘Gadajats’, with the Odisha province and accordingly issued two circulars to all rulers.
He ensured take over of Nilgiri without any bloodshed as the Maharaja responded with force to agitations demanding its accession to Odisha province.
As other princely states continued to resist the move, he persuaded Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the then Union Home Minister, to come to Cuttack on December 24, 1947 and meet the princes. Patel sternly told that them to accept the merger proposal. “If you do not accept our proposal I don’t take responsibility for law and order in your state. You take care of that yourself.”
Also Read: Merging Odisha’s ‘Gadajat’ States: Know Why Sardar Patel’s Visit To Cuttack Proved Crucial
This started the process of integration of princely states in other parts of India as well.
Mahatab also joined the Jawaharlal Nehru government as minister for industry and supply in May 1950 and was instrumental in setting up various industries, including private ones such as Biju Patnaik’s Kalinga Tubes factory. He served as the Governor of Bombay in 1955-56 and retired from active politics in 1977.
