Bhubaneswar: Odisha Friday paid rich tributes to ‘Utkalmani’ Gopabandhu Das, a prominent social reformer and poet, on his 149th birth anniversary, with leaders across the political spectrum participating in commemorative programmes held across the state.
Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati paid tributes to Das and 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, Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo, BJP state president Manmohan Samal and others offered floral tributes at the statue of Gopabandhu on the Assembly premises.
In a social media post, Majhi said, “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,
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.”
ସେବା ଓ ତ୍ୟାଗର ମହାନ ପ୍ରତୀକ ଉତ୍କଳମଣି ପଣ୍ଡିତ ଗୋପବନ୍ଧୁ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଜୟନ୍ତୀରେ ମୋର ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି ଜଣାଉଛି। ଦେଶର ସ୍ୱାଧୀନତା ସଂଗ୍ରାମ ସହ ସମାଜ ସଂସ୍କାର, ସାମ୍ବାଦିକତା ତଥା ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସାହିତ୍ୟକୁ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ କରିବାରେ ତାଙ୍କର ଅବଦାନ ଅତୁଳନୀୟ। ସେ ଦେଖାଇଥିବା ଆଦର୍ଶ ସର୍ବଦା ପ୍ରେରଣାର ଉତ୍ସ। https://t.co/LGN6sYRSVi
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) October 9, 2026
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.
ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଜାତିର ଗର୍ବ, ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ସ୍ୱାଧୀନତା ସଂଗ୍ରାମୀ, ସାହିତ୍ୟିକ ତଥା ମହାନ ସମାଜସେବୀ ଉତ୍କଳମଣି ପଣ୍ଡିତ ଗୋପବନ୍ଧୁ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଜୟନ୍ତୀରେ ମୋର ବିନମ୍ର ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି ଅର୍ପଣ କରୁଛି। ଶିକ୍ଷା, ସାମ୍ବାଦିକତା ଓ ସମାଜ ସଂସ୍କାର କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ତାଙ୍କର ଅବିସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ଅବଦାନ ଏବଂ ଜନସେବା ପ୍ରତି ତାଙ୍କର ଅତୁଟ ନିଷ୍ଠା ସର୍ବଦା ଆଗାମୀ ପିଢ଼ିକୁ ଅନୁପ୍ରାଣିତ କରିବ।
— Bhakta Charan Das (@BhaktaCharanDas) October 9, 2026
Gopabandhu Das was born 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 July 17, 1928.
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