Bhubaneswar: The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on October 2, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence. He toured the country incessantly, indefatigably, in torrid humid weather, addressing mammoth public meetings of lakhs of people.
On his 153rd birth anniversary, let us tread through the seven places in Odisha that Gandhi visited between 1921 and 1946.
Cuttack
Gandhi and his wife Kasturba visited Odisha in 1921. They went to Cuttack on March 23, 1921, where Gandhi spoke on Hindu-Muslim unity. He also addressed a meeting of women at Binod Bihari in the city and a public meeting at the Kathajodi riverbed.
The women who had gathered to listen to him donated huge amounts of gold ornaments for the freedom struggle.
On his second visit to Odisha in 1925, Gandhi went to Cuttack again and visited the Utkal tannery.
Bhadrak
During the same visit in 1921, Gandhi went to Bhadrak to address a public meeting. He spent a day propagating Congress views there. He also held a public meeting at Gandhi Padia on the banks of the Salandi River.
In 1927, he visited the flood-ravaged area of Basudevpur tehsil of Bhadrak district to see for himself the plight of the people there.
Puri
Gandhiji visited Puri in 1921.
In 1934, he unveiled a statue of the late Pandit Gopabandhu Das in Puri before undertaking a padayatra to spread the message that “human vanity lies at the root of untouchability.” The march began from Puri and touched Harekrushnapur, Chandanpur, Sakshigopal, Kadua Ashram, Danda Mukundapur, Pipili, Balakati, Satyabhamapur, Balianta, Telengapenth, Kajipatna on way to Cuttack.
In 1938, he attended the fourth annual conference of Gandhi Seva Sangha and an agro and village enterprise exhibition at Beraboi in Delanga area of Puri district. Iron Man of India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel accompanied him on this visit. He spent seven days in this village along with his family and other prominent leaders.
In 2021, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced to develop Gandhi Memorial and establish a model school at Beraboi to celebrate 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi’s first visit to Odisha in 1921.
Berhampur
On March 29, 1921, accompanied by Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das, Gandhi reached Berhampur and addressed a huge gathering at the Barracks Ground, which is now Berhampur Stadium.
Balasore
On his third visit to Odisha in 1927, Gandhi visited Balasore to meet flood victims at Basudevpur tehsil in Bhadrak district.
Jharsuguda
On December 22, 1928, Gandhi reached Jharsuguda to address a public meeting. He had halted here on his way to attend the AICC session in erstwhile Calcutta.
Sambalpur
During the same visit in 1928, he addressed a public meeting on the bank of the Mahanadi and listened to stories and reports about Sambalpur’s woes.
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