Post News Network
Cuttack, April 28: The 167th birth anniversary of legendary statesman, freedom fighter, social reformer and son of the soil Utkal Gourab Madhusudan Das was celebrated by the district administration in association with Cuttack Municipal Corporation here Tuesday.
District collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra garlanded a statue of Das at Cantonment Square. “Madhu babu is the pride of Orissa. He represented its spirit in the true sense. He worked his entire life for the welfare and development of Orissa. He called upon all Oriyas to work together for a glorious Orissa. We would do well to follow his ideals and give our best to lift Orissa to greater heights,” the collector said.
Schoolchildren who had participated in and won prizes at a debate competition based on Das’s life were awarded prizes.
Earlier, Cuttack-Barabati MLA Debashis Samantaray paid tributes to Das at the latter’s Samadhi Peeth at Gorakabar. He also garlanded Das’s statue at Deer Park in the presence of Cuttack Mayor Anita Behera, additional collector Laxmidhar Mohanty and others. The programme was coordinated by DIPRO Minaketan Behera.
In another programme, a new statue of Das was unveiled at Jobra Municipality Park by Orissa High Court judge Ranjit Mohanty.
Similar tributes were also paid in the state capital Tuesday.
DAV Public School in Pokhariput organised a cultural programme in which 50 students enthralled the audience by performing song and dance. Kindergarten students garlanded a statue of the iconic lawyer and performed a song called ‘Utkal Santan’ written by the great man himself.
“Madhu Babu was the first lawyer of Orissa, and was also instrumental in ushering in a great revolution in Oriya literature. His contributions for the people of the state are too great to be measured, and it is our privilege to be celebrating his birth anniversary in our school. Students are taking part in various cultural activities in order to mark the occasion,” said Sujata Mishra, principal.
Bhubaneswar Bar Association organised a felicitation ceremony. A statue of Das was garlanded by Justice Debabrata Dash of the Orissa High Court.
“Today, we commemorate our hero Utkal Gourab Madhusudan Das, who dedicated his life to his people. He has been an inspiration to all lawyers in state,” said Chitaranjan Das, secretary.