Page 1
Historical Personalities
Surendra Sai
Hewasbornin1884inKhindavillageinSambalpurdistrictof Odisha.Hewasan
IndianfreedomfighterandtriballeaderwhorevoltedagainsttheBritishrulein
1827.Hebelongedtotheroyalfamily.Hewasnotgivensufficientsupportdueto
whichhehadtosurrenderon16thMay,1862.Hewasimprisoned inAsirgarhjail.
Hepassedawayon28thFebruary,1884.
Tohonourthisgreatleader,theGovernmentofOdishachangedthenameofthe
UniversityCollegeofEngineering,theoldestengineering collegeofthestateto
VeerSurendraSaiUniversityofTechnology,in2009.VeerSurendraSaiStadiumin
Sambalpurisalsonamedafterhim.
Utkal Gaurav Madhusudan Das
HewasborninCuttackdistrict(BengalPresidencyCompanyruleinIndia)in1848.
HewasthefirstpersonfromOdishatogetthedegreeofMABLfromCalcutta
University.
HewasfamouslyknownasKulabruddha(GrandOldMan),MadhuBabuand
UtkalaGaurav(PrideofUtkal).HewasapoetandfreedomfighterofOdisha.He
workedforthesocial,politicalandeconomicalupliftment oftheOdishapeopleand
alsofortheunificationofthestate.Byhislongpoliticalstruggle,hesucceededto
UniteOdishaandModernOdishacameintoexistenceasastate.1stAprilis
celebratedas ‘UtkalaDibasa’astheformationdayofOdisha.
HISTORICAL AND OTHER
CHAPTER 31
Odisha is a state where a number of eminent personalities
were born that have proved their splendor in historical,
political and art and cultural fields. Their contributions are
valuable to the society, the state and the country.
Page 2
Historical Personalities
Surendra Sai
Hewasbornin1884inKhindavillageinSambalpurdistrictof Odisha.Hewasan
IndianfreedomfighterandtriballeaderwhorevoltedagainsttheBritishrulein
1827.Hebelongedtotheroyalfamily.Hewasnotgivensufficientsupportdueto
whichhehadtosurrenderon16thMay,1862.Hewasimprisoned inAsirgarhjail.
Hepassedawayon28thFebruary,1884.
Tohonourthisgreatleader,theGovernmentofOdishachangedthenameofthe
UniversityCollegeofEngineering,theoldestengineering collegeofthestateto
VeerSurendraSaiUniversityofTechnology,in2009.VeerSurendraSaiStadiumin
Sambalpurisalsonamedafterhim.
Utkal Gaurav Madhusudan Das
HewasborninCuttackdistrict(BengalPresidencyCompanyruleinIndia)in1848.
HewasthefirstpersonfromOdishatogetthedegreeofMABLfromCalcutta
University.
HewasfamouslyknownasKulabruddha(GrandOldMan),MadhuBabuand
UtkalaGaurav(PrideofUtkal).HewasapoetandfreedomfighterofOdisha.He
workedforthesocial,politicalandeconomicalupliftment oftheOdishapeopleand
alsofortheunificationofthestate.Byhislongpoliticalstruggle,hesucceededto
UniteOdishaandModernOdishacameintoexistenceasastate.1stAprilis
celebratedas ‘UtkalaDibasa’astheformationdayofOdisha.
HISTORICAL AND OTHER
CHAPTER 31
Odisha is a state where a number of eminent personalities
were born that have proved their splendor in historical,
political and art and cultural fields. Their contributions are
valuable to the society, the state and the country.
Historical and Other Famous Personalities of Odisha
347
HewasthefounderofUtkal
Sammilani.Hewasthefirstperson
fromOdishatobethememberof
LegislativeCouncilandtheCentral
LegislativeAssembly.Hehadthe
distinctionofbeingthefirstIndian
ministertosailoverseas.
HealsofoundedtheOdishaArtware
Worksin1897andduetohissupport,
the‘Tarakasi(Filigree)work’ofsilver
ornamentsachievedcommendable
feet.Hediedintheyear1934.
Maharaja Sriram
Chandra Bhanj Deo
He was born in 1870 in Baripada in
Mayurbhanj. He was an enlightened
ruler of Princely State of Mayurbhanj.
He formally conquered the throne on
15th August, 1892. He worked for
upliftment of Mayurbhanj and
implemented various welfare schemes
designed to help the people. He
presidedoverthefirstmeetingofUtkal
Sammilanion3rdDecember,1933.
Hecommissionedanarrowgauge
railwaylinefromRupsatoBaripada,
whichisknownasMayurbhanjState
Railway.Healsoestablished
educationalinstitutions,agovernment
pressandmedicalinstitutioninthe
state.Hediedintheyear1912.
Chandra Sekhar Behera
Hewasbornin1873inSambalpur
districtofOdisha.Hewasaleading
freedomfighter,asocialreformerandan
activeparticipantinthe
Non-CooperationMovement.Heledthe
nationalfreedommovementin
Sambalpurregion.
Hewasafoundingmemberofthe
NationalSchoolofSambalpur.Asthe
ChairmanofSambalpurMunicipality,he
receivedGandhijiatSambalpurin1928.
Heisalsocreditedtoorganiseamass
movementagainstilliteracyand
untouchability.Hediedintheyear1936.
Pandit Gopabandhu Das
Hewasbornin1877inSuandovillagein
PuridistrictofOdisha.Hewasasocial
reformer,worker,politicalactivist,
journalist,poetandessayist.Hewas
popularlyknownastheGandhiof
Odisha,andUtkalamani(Jewelof
Utkal/Odisha).
Hegreatlycontributedintheformation
ofaseparateprovinceofOdisha.Heis
creditedtoestablishSatyabadiSchool,
popularlyknownasSatyabadiBakulBana
Bidyalaya,atSakhigopalainPuridistrict.
Thestudentsofthisschoolwereproved
tobeenergeticfightersagainsttheBritish
power.MahatmaGandhiconferredhim
bysaying,‘‘Gopabandhuwasoneofthe
NoblestSonsofOdisha’’. Hediedinthe
year1928.
Nilakantha Das
Hewasbornin1884inPuridistrictof
Odisha(BengalPresidency,BritishIndia).
Hewasanorator,socialreformer,speaker,
writer,politicianandafreedomfighter.
Page 3
Historical Personalities
Surendra Sai
Hewasbornin1884inKhindavillageinSambalpurdistrictof Odisha.Hewasan
IndianfreedomfighterandtriballeaderwhorevoltedagainsttheBritishrulein
1827.Hebelongedtotheroyalfamily.Hewasnotgivensufficientsupportdueto
whichhehadtosurrenderon16thMay,1862.Hewasimprisoned inAsirgarhjail.
Hepassedawayon28thFebruary,1884.
Tohonourthisgreatleader,theGovernmentofOdishachangedthenameofthe
UniversityCollegeofEngineering,theoldestengineering collegeofthestateto
VeerSurendraSaiUniversityofTechnology,in2009.VeerSurendraSaiStadiumin
Sambalpurisalsonamedafterhim.
Utkal Gaurav Madhusudan Das
HewasborninCuttackdistrict(BengalPresidencyCompanyruleinIndia)in1848.
HewasthefirstpersonfromOdishatogetthedegreeofMABLfromCalcutta
University.
HewasfamouslyknownasKulabruddha(GrandOldMan),MadhuBabuand
UtkalaGaurav(PrideofUtkal).HewasapoetandfreedomfighterofOdisha.He
workedforthesocial,politicalandeconomicalupliftment oftheOdishapeopleand
alsofortheunificationofthestate.Byhislongpoliticalstruggle,hesucceededto
UniteOdishaandModernOdishacameintoexistenceasastate.1stAprilis
celebratedas ‘UtkalaDibasa’astheformationdayofOdisha.
HISTORICAL AND OTHER
CHAPTER 31
Odisha is a state where a number of eminent personalities
were born that have proved their splendor in historical,
political and art and cultural fields. Their contributions are
valuable to the society, the state and the country.
Historical and Other Famous Personalities of Odisha
347
HewasthefounderofUtkal
Sammilani.Hewasthefirstperson
fromOdishatobethememberof
LegislativeCouncilandtheCentral
LegislativeAssembly.Hehadthe
distinctionofbeingthefirstIndian
ministertosailoverseas.
HealsofoundedtheOdishaArtware
Worksin1897andduetohissupport,
the‘Tarakasi(Filigree)work’ofsilver
ornamentsachievedcommendable
feet.Hediedintheyear1934.
Maharaja Sriram
Chandra Bhanj Deo
He was born in 1870 in Baripada in
Mayurbhanj. He was an enlightened
ruler of Princely State of Mayurbhanj.
He formally conquered the throne on
15th August, 1892. He worked for
upliftment of Mayurbhanj and
implemented various welfare schemes
designed to help the people. He
presidedoverthefirstmeetingofUtkal
Sammilanion3rdDecember,1933.
Hecommissionedanarrowgauge
railwaylinefromRupsatoBaripada,
whichisknownasMayurbhanjState
Railway.Healsoestablished
educationalinstitutions,agovernment
pressandmedicalinstitutioninthe
state.Hediedintheyear1912.
Chandra Sekhar Behera
Hewasbornin1873inSambalpur
districtofOdisha.Hewasaleading
freedomfighter,asocialreformerandan
activeparticipantinthe
Non-CooperationMovement.Heledthe
nationalfreedommovementin
Sambalpurregion.
Hewasafoundingmemberofthe
NationalSchoolofSambalpur.Asthe
ChairmanofSambalpurMunicipality,he
receivedGandhijiatSambalpurin1928.
Heisalsocreditedtoorganiseamass
movementagainstilliteracyand
untouchability.Hediedintheyear1936.
Pandit Gopabandhu Das
Hewasbornin1877inSuandovillagein
PuridistrictofOdisha.Hewasasocial
reformer,worker,politicalactivist,
journalist,poetandessayist.Hewas
popularlyknownastheGandhiof
Odisha,andUtkalamani(Jewelof
Utkal/Odisha).
Hegreatlycontributedintheformation
ofaseparateprovinceofOdisha.Heis
creditedtoestablishSatyabadiSchool,
popularlyknownasSatyabadiBakulBana
Bidyalaya,atSakhigopalainPuridistrict.
Thestudentsofthisschoolwereproved
tobeenergeticfightersagainsttheBritish
power.MahatmaGandhiconferredhim
bysaying,‘‘Gopabandhuwasoneofthe
NoblestSonsofOdisha’’. Hediedinthe
year1928.
Nilakantha Das
Hewasbornin1884inPuridistrictof
Odisha(BengalPresidency,BritishIndia).
Hewasanorator,socialreformer,speaker,
writer,politicianandafreedomfighter.
348
Know Your State ODISHA
Heinspiredtheyouthtofightagainst
untouchablesandothersocialevils.His
epicsareconsideredasmasterpieceof
Odialanguage.Hewashonouredbythe
PadmaBhushanin1960.Hedied
in1967.
Parbati Giri
Shewasbornin1926inBargarhdistrict
ofOdisha.Shewasaprominentfemale
freedomfighterofOdisha,whotook
partintheIndianfreedomstruggle.
From1942,shecampaignedforthe
‘QuitIndiaMovement’,andwas
imprisonedmanytimesbytheBritish.
AfterIndependence,sheservedthe
nationsociallyandopenedanorphanage
atPaikuralvillage,inBargarhdistrict
anddevotedherlifeforthewelfareof
orphans.Shediedintheyear1995.
Political Personalities
Biswanath Das
Hewasbornin1889inGanjamdistrict
(MadrasPresidency,BritishIndia)of
Odisha.Hewasaneminentpolitician,
leader,freedomfighter,ablestatesman
andremarkableadministrator.Hewas
electedasthePresidentoftheGanjam
DistrictBoardintheyear1920.
HejoinedtheNon-Cooperation
Movementinresponsetothecallof
MahatmaGandhiin1921,after
giving-uphislawpractice.Hecontinued
tobeamemberofMadrasLegislative
Assemblyfrom1921to1930.Hewas
thePrimeMinisteroftheOdisha
ProvinceofBritishIndiafrom1937-39.
HeledthePeasantMovementand
foughtforthecreationofaseparate
Odishaprovince.
HewaselectedtoLokSabhain1950
andbecamethePresidentofUtkal
PradeshCongressCommittee.Heserved
astheGovernorofUttarPradesh
1962-67.HebecametheChiefMinister
ofOdishafrom1971-72.Hediedinthe
year1984.
Maharaja Krushna Chandra
Gajapati
Hewasbornin1892inParalakhemundi
inPuridistrictofOdisha.Hewas
consideredastheArchitectof
IndependentModernOdisha.Hewas
thegreatfreedomfighterandthefirst
PrimeMinisterofOdishafrom
1941-1944.Hewasalsooneofthe
foundingfathersoftheIndian
Constitutionandamemberofthe
ConstituentAssemblyofIndia.
HeattendedtheFirstRoundTable
ConferenceinLondonon16th
November,1930whereinhemadean
appealforcreatingaseparateprovinceof
Odishaonthebasisoflanguageand
homogeneity.Hewasalsoamemberof
oldMadrasLegislativeCouncil,a
memberofRoyalCommissionof
AgricultureandamemberofOdisha
LegislativeAssembly.Hediedinthe
year1974.
Harekrushna Mahatab
Hewasbornin1899inAgarpadavillage
inBhadrakdistrict.Hewasaleaderof
theIndianNationalCongress,a
renownedpersonalityofIndian
IndependenceMovementandpolitician.
HewaspopularlyknownasUtkal
Keshari.Hispoliticalcareerstartedin
1921,whenhetookpartin‘PadaYatra’
startedbyMahatmaGandhi.
Page 4
Historical Personalities
Surendra Sai
Hewasbornin1884inKhindavillageinSambalpurdistrictof Odisha.Hewasan
IndianfreedomfighterandtriballeaderwhorevoltedagainsttheBritishrulein
1827.Hebelongedtotheroyalfamily.Hewasnotgivensufficientsupportdueto
whichhehadtosurrenderon16thMay,1862.Hewasimprisoned inAsirgarhjail.
Hepassedawayon28thFebruary,1884.
Tohonourthisgreatleader,theGovernmentofOdishachangedthenameofthe
UniversityCollegeofEngineering,theoldestengineering collegeofthestateto
VeerSurendraSaiUniversityofTechnology,in2009.VeerSurendraSaiStadiumin
Sambalpurisalsonamedafterhim.
Utkal Gaurav Madhusudan Das
HewasborninCuttackdistrict(BengalPresidencyCompanyruleinIndia)in1848.
HewasthefirstpersonfromOdishatogetthedegreeofMABLfromCalcutta
University.
HewasfamouslyknownasKulabruddha(GrandOldMan),MadhuBabuand
UtkalaGaurav(PrideofUtkal).HewasapoetandfreedomfighterofOdisha.He
workedforthesocial,politicalandeconomicalupliftment oftheOdishapeopleand
alsofortheunificationofthestate.Byhislongpoliticalstruggle,hesucceededto
UniteOdishaandModernOdishacameintoexistenceasastate.1stAprilis
celebratedas ‘UtkalaDibasa’astheformationdayofOdisha.
HISTORICAL AND OTHER
CHAPTER 31
Odisha is a state where a number of eminent personalities
were born that have proved their splendor in historical,
political and art and cultural fields. Their contributions are
valuable to the society, the state and the country.
Historical and Other Famous Personalities of Odisha
347
HewasthefounderofUtkal
Sammilani.Hewasthefirstperson
fromOdishatobethememberof
LegislativeCouncilandtheCentral
LegislativeAssembly.Hehadthe
distinctionofbeingthefirstIndian
ministertosailoverseas.
HealsofoundedtheOdishaArtware
Worksin1897andduetohissupport,
the‘Tarakasi(Filigree)work’ofsilver
ornamentsachievedcommendable
feet.Hediedintheyear1934.
Maharaja Sriram
Chandra Bhanj Deo
He was born in 1870 in Baripada in
Mayurbhanj. He was an enlightened
ruler of Princely State of Mayurbhanj.
He formally conquered the throne on
15th August, 1892. He worked for
upliftment of Mayurbhanj and
implemented various welfare schemes
designed to help the people. He
presidedoverthefirstmeetingofUtkal
Sammilanion3rdDecember,1933.
Hecommissionedanarrowgauge
railwaylinefromRupsatoBaripada,
whichisknownasMayurbhanjState
Railway.Healsoestablished
educationalinstitutions,agovernment
pressandmedicalinstitutioninthe
state.Hediedintheyear1912.
Chandra Sekhar Behera
Hewasbornin1873inSambalpur
districtofOdisha.Hewasaleading
freedomfighter,asocialreformerandan
activeparticipantinthe
Non-CooperationMovement.Heledthe
nationalfreedommovementin
Sambalpurregion.
Hewasafoundingmemberofthe
NationalSchoolofSambalpur.Asthe
ChairmanofSambalpurMunicipality,he
receivedGandhijiatSambalpurin1928.
Heisalsocreditedtoorganiseamass
movementagainstilliteracyand
untouchability.Hediedintheyear1936.
Pandit Gopabandhu Das
Hewasbornin1877inSuandovillagein
PuridistrictofOdisha.Hewasasocial
reformer,worker,politicalactivist,
journalist,poetandessayist.Hewas
popularlyknownastheGandhiof
Odisha,andUtkalamani(Jewelof
Utkal/Odisha).
Hegreatlycontributedintheformation
ofaseparateprovinceofOdisha.Heis
creditedtoestablishSatyabadiSchool,
popularlyknownasSatyabadiBakulBana
Bidyalaya,atSakhigopalainPuridistrict.
Thestudentsofthisschoolwereproved
tobeenergeticfightersagainsttheBritish
power.MahatmaGandhiconferredhim
bysaying,‘‘Gopabandhuwasoneofthe
NoblestSonsofOdisha’’. Hediedinthe
year1928.
Nilakantha Das
Hewasbornin1884inPuridistrictof
Odisha(BengalPresidency,BritishIndia).
Hewasanorator,socialreformer,speaker,
writer,politicianandafreedomfighter.
348
Know Your State ODISHA
Heinspiredtheyouthtofightagainst
untouchablesandothersocialevils.His
epicsareconsideredasmasterpieceof
Odialanguage.Hewashonouredbythe
PadmaBhushanin1960.Hedied
in1967.
Parbati Giri
Shewasbornin1926inBargarhdistrict
ofOdisha.Shewasaprominentfemale
freedomfighterofOdisha,whotook
partintheIndianfreedomstruggle.
From1942,shecampaignedforthe
‘QuitIndiaMovement’,andwas
imprisonedmanytimesbytheBritish.
AfterIndependence,sheservedthe
nationsociallyandopenedanorphanage
atPaikuralvillage,inBargarhdistrict
anddevotedherlifeforthewelfareof
orphans.Shediedintheyear1995.
Political Personalities
Biswanath Das
Hewasbornin1889inGanjamdistrict
(MadrasPresidency,BritishIndia)of
Odisha.Hewasaneminentpolitician,
leader,freedomfighter,ablestatesman
andremarkableadministrator.Hewas
electedasthePresidentoftheGanjam
DistrictBoardintheyear1920.
HejoinedtheNon-Cooperation
Movementinresponsetothecallof
MahatmaGandhiin1921,after
giving-uphislawpractice.Hecontinued
tobeamemberofMadrasLegislative
Assemblyfrom1921to1930.Hewas
thePrimeMinisteroftheOdisha
ProvinceofBritishIndiafrom1937-39.
HeledthePeasantMovementand
foughtforthecreationofaseparate
Odishaprovince.
HewaselectedtoLokSabhain1950
andbecamethePresidentofUtkal
PradeshCongressCommittee.Heserved
astheGovernorofUttarPradesh
1962-67.HebecametheChiefMinister
ofOdishafrom1971-72.Hediedinthe
year1984.
Maharaja Krushna Chandra
Gajapati
Hewasbornin1892inParalakhemundi
inPuridistrictofOdisha.Hewas
consideredastheArchitectof
IndependentModernOdisha.Hewas
thegreatfreedomfighterandthefirst
PrimeMinisterofOdishafrom
1941-1944.Hewasalsooneofthe
foundingfathersoftheIndian
Constitutionandamemberofthe
ConstituentAssemblyofIndia.
HeattendedtheFirstRoundTable
ConferenceinLondonon16th
November,1930whereinhemadean
appealforcreatingaseparateprovinceof
Odishaonthebasisoflanguageand
homogeneity.Hewasalsoamemberof
oldMadrasLegislativeCouncil,a
memberofRoyalCommissionof
AgricultureandamemberofOdisha
LegislativeAssembly.Hediedinthe
year1974.
Harekrushna Mahatab
Hewasbornin1899inAgarpadavillage
inBhadrakdistrict.Hewasaleaderof
theIndianNationalCongress,a
renownedpersonalityofIndian
IndependenceMovementandpolitician.
HewaspopularlyknownasUtkal
Keshari.Hispoliticalcareerstartedin
1921,whenhetookpartin‘PadaYatra’
startedbyMahatmaGandhi.
Historical and Other Famous Personalities of Odisha
HebecamethefirstChiefMinisterof
Odishafrom1946-1950.Hestarteda
magazinenamed‘Jhankar’inOdia
languageandachildren’smagazine
named‘Minabajar’.Hewasthefounder
ofthePrajatantraPracharSamitiand
startedPrajatantra,aweeklymagazine
in1923atBalasore.Thismagazinewas
laterknownasthe‘DailyPrajatantra’.
Hewasinstrumentalinshiftingthe
capitalfromCuttacktoBhubaneswar.
In1983,hewashonouredbythe
‘SahityaAcademyAward’forthethird
volumeofhisfamouswork‘Gaon
Majlis’.Hediedintheyear1987.
Raja Artatran Deo
Hewasbornintheyear1900.In1921,
hebecametheRajaofKhariar(present
dayNuapadadistrict).Hewasagreat
patronofart,cultureandeducation,
sportsmanofdistinction,memberof
manycommitteesandorganisations.He
patronisedBeerBikramTheatreof
Khariar,thefirstpermanentOdiastage
inthestate.
HewasanominatedmemberofOdisha
AdvisoryCouncil.Hewaselectedto
OdishaLegislativeAssemblyin1937
and1946fromKhariarAssembly
Constituency.Heplayedapivotalrolein
formationofOdishaasaseparate
provinceintheyear1936.Duetohis
leadershipKhariar Zamindarimerged
withthestateofOdishaleadingtofull
statehood.Hediedintheyear1946.
Biju Patnaik
Hewasbornin1916inCuttackdistrict
ofOdisha.HewasanIndianpolitician
andbusinessman.
Hegottrainingofpilotandwiththe
startingoftheSecondWorldWarhe
joinedtheRoyalIndianAirForceand
laterbecameheadofairtransport
command(1940-42).Hebecamethe
ChiefMinisterofOdishatwice,firstin
1961-1963andsecondin1990-1995.
Heisalsocreditedtomakestrongthe
basicinfrastructureofthestatethrough
manyprojects.SomeofthesearePortof
Paradip,OdishaAviationCentre,
BhubaneswarAirport,the
Cuttack–JagatpurMahanadiHighway
Bridge,OdishaUniversityof
AgricultureandTechnology,
Bhubaneswar,NALCO(National
AluminiumCompany),Talcher
ThermalPowerStation,BalimelaHydel
Project,HALSunabeda.Healso
establishedtheKalingaCupinFootball.
Hediedintheyear1997.
Chintamani Panigrahi
Hewasbornin1922inPuridistrict of
Odisha.HewasanIndian
IndependenceMovementactivist,a
politicalandsocialleaderfromOdisha.
Hebecameamemberof2ndLokSabha
in1957fromPuriConstituency.Hewas
re-electedtobeLokSabhain1967,
1971,1980and1984from
BhubaneswarConstituency.
349
Page 5
Historical Personalities
Surendra Sai
Hewasbornin1884inKhindavillageinSambalpurdistrictof Odisha.Hewasan
IndianfreedomfighterandtriballeaderwhorevoltedagainsttheBritishrulein
1827.Hebelongedtotheroyalfamily.Hewasnotgivensufficientsupportdueto
whichhehadtosurrenderon16thMay,1862.Hewasimprisoned inAsirgarhjail.
Hepassedawayon28thFebruary,1884.
Tohonourthisgreatleader,theGovernmentofOdishachangedthenameofthe
UniversityCollegeofEngineering,theoldestengineering collegeofthestateto
VeerSurendraSaiUniversityofTechnology,in2009.VeerSurendraSaiStadiumin
Sambalpurisalsonamedafterhim.
Utkal Gaurav Madhusudan Das
HewasborninCuttackdistrict(BengalPresidencyCompanyruleinIndia)in1848.
HewasthefirstpersonfromOdishatogetthedegreeofMABLfromCalcutta
University.
HewasfamouslyknownasKulabruddha(GrandOldMan),MadhuBabuand
UtkalaGaurav(PrideofUtkal).HewasapoetandfreedomfighterofOdisha.He
workedforthesocial,politicalandeconomicalupliftment oftheOdishapeopleand
alsofortheunificationofthestate.Byhislongpoliticalstruggle,hesucceededto
UniteOdishaandModernOdishacameintoexistenceasastate.1stAprilis
celebratedas ‘UtkalaDibasa’astheformationdayofOdisha.
HISTORICAL AND OTHER
CHAPTER 31
Odisha is a state where a number of eminent personalities
were born that have proved their splendor in historical,
political and art and cultural fields. Their contributions are
valuable to the society, the state and the country.
Historical and Other Famous Personalities of Odisha
347
HewasthefounderofUtkal
Sammilani.Hewasthefirstperson
fromOdishatobethememberof
LegislativeCouncilandtheCentral
LegislativeAssembly.Hehadthe
distinctionofbeingthefirstIndian
ministertosailoverseas.
HealsofoundedtheOdishaArtware
Worksin1897andduetohissupport,
the‘Tarakasi(Filigree)work’ofsilver
ornamentsachievedcommendable
feet.Hediedintheyear1934.
Maharaja Sriram
Chandra Bhanj Deo
He was born in 1870 in Baripada in
Mayurbhanj. He was an enlightened
ruler of Princely State of Mayurbhanj.
He formally conquered the throne on
15th August, 1892. He worked for
upliftment of Mayurbhanj and
implemented various welfare schemes
designed to help the people. He
presidedoverthefirstmeetingofUtkal
Sammilanion3rdDecember,1933.
Hecommissionedanarrowgauge
railwaylinefromRupsatoBaripada,
whichisknownasMayurbhanjState
Railway.Healsoestablished
educationalinstitutions,agovernment
pressandmedicalinstitutioninthe
state.Hediedintheyear1912.
Chandra Sekhar Behera
Hewasbornin1873inSambalpur
districtofOdisha.Hewasaleading
freedomfighter,asocialreformerandan
activeparticipantinthe
Non-CooperationMovement.Heledthe
nationalfreedommovementin
Sambalpurregion.
Hewasafoundingmemberofthe
NationalSchoolofSambalpur.Asthe
ChairmanofSambalpurMunicipality,he
receivedGandhijiatSambalpurin1928.
Heisalsocreditedtoorganiseamass
movementagainstilliteracyand
untouchability.Hediedintheyear1936.
Pandit Gopabandhu Das
Hewasbornin1877inSuandovillagein
PuridistrictofOdisha.Hewasasocial
reformer,worker,politicalactivist,
journalist,poetandessayist.Hewas
popularlyknownastheGandhiof
Odisha,andUtkalamani(Jewelof
Utkal/Odisha).
Hegreatlycontributedintheformation
ofaseparateprovinceofOdisha.Heis
creditedtoestablishSatyabadiSchool,
popularlyknownasSatyabadiBakulBana
Bidyalaya,atSakhigopalainPuridistrict.
Thestudentsofthisschoolwereproved
tobeenergeticfightersagainsttheBritish
power.MahatmaGandhiconferredhim
bysaying,‘‘Gopabandhuwasoneofthe
NoblestSonsofOdisha’’. Hediedinthe
year1928.
Nilakantha Das
Hewasbornin1884inPuridistrictof
Odisha(BengalPresidency,BritishIndia).
Hewasanorator,socialreformer,speaker,
writer,politicianandafreedomfighter.
348
Know Your State ODISHA
Heinspiredtheyouthtofightagainst
untouchablesandothersocialevils.His
epicsareconsideredasmasterpieceof
Odialanguage.Hewashonouredbythe
PadmaBhushanin1960.Hedied
in1967.
Parbati Giri
Shewasbornin1926inBargarhdistrict
ofOdisha.Shewasaprominentfemale
freedomfighterofOdisha,whotook
partintheIndianfreedomstruggle.
From1942,shecampaignedforthe
‘QuitIndiaMovement’,andwas
imprisonedmanytimesbytheBritish.
AfterIndependence,sheservedthe
nationsociallyandopenedanorphanage
atPaikuralvillage,inBargarhdistrict
anddevotedherlifeforthewelfareof
orphans.Shediedintheyear1995.
Political Personalities
Biswanath Das
Hewasbornin1889inGanjamdistrict
(MadrasPresidency,BritishIndia)of
Odisha.Hewasaneminentpolitician,
leader,freedomfighter,ablestatesman
andremarkableadministrator.Hewas
electedasthePresidentoftheGanjam
DistrictBoardintheyear1920.
HejoinedtheNon-Cooperation
Movementinresponsetothecallof
MahatmaGandhiin1921,after
giving-uphislawpractice.Hecontinued
tobeamemberofMadrasLegislative
Assemblyfrom1921to1930.Hewas
thePrimeMinisteroftheOdisha
ProvinceofBritishIndiafrom1937-39.
HeledthePeasantMovementand
foughtforthecreationofaseparate
Odishaprovince.
HewaselectedtoLokSabhain1950
andbecamethePresidentofUtkal
PradeshCongressCommittee.Heserved
astheGovernorofUttarPradesh
1962-67.HebecametheChiefMinister
ofOdishafrom1971-72.Hediedinthe
year1984.
Maharaja Krushna Chandra
Gajapati
Hewasbornin1892inParalakhemundi
inPuridistrictofOdisha.Hewas
consideredastheArchitectof
IndependentModernOdisha.Hewas
thegreatfreedomfighterandthefirst
PrimeMinisterofOdishafrom
1941-1944.Hewasalsooneofthe
foundingfathersoftheIndian
Constitutionandamemberofthe
ConstituentAssemblyofIndia.
HeattendedtheFirstRoundTable
ConferenceinLondonon16th
November,1930whereinhemadean
appealforcreatingaseparateprovinceof
Odishaonthebasisoflanguageand
homogeneity.Hewasalsoamemberof
oldMadrasLegislativeCouncil,a
memberofRoyalCommissionof
AgricultureandamemberofOdisha
LegislativeAssembly.Hediedinthe
year1974.
Harekrushna Mahatab
Hewasbornin1899inAgarpadavillage
inBhadrakdistrict.Hewasaleaderof
theIndianNationalCongress,a
renownedpersonalityofIndian
IndependenceMovementandpolitician.
HewaspopularlyknownasUtkal
Keshari.Hispoliticalcareerstartedin
1921,whenhetookpartin‘PadaYatra’
startedbyMahatmaGandhi.
Historical and Other Famous Personalities of Odisha
HebecamethefirstChiefMinisterof
Odishafrom1946-1950.Hestarteda
magazinenamed‘Jhankar’inOdia
languageandachildren’smagazine
named‘Minabajar’.Hewasthefounder
ofthePrajatantraPracharSamitiand
startedPrajatantra,aweeklymagazine
in1923atBalasore.Thismagazinewas
laterknownasthe‘DailyPrajatantra’.
Hewasinstrumentalinshiftingthe
capitalfromCuttacktoBhubaneswar.
In1983,hewashonouredbythe
‘SahityaAcademyAward’forthethird
volumeofhisfamouswork‘Gaon
Majlis’.Hediedintheyear1987.
Raja Artatran Deo
Hewasbornintheyear1900.In1921,
hebecametheRajaofKhariar(present
dayNuapadadistrict).Hewasagreat
patronofart,cultureandeducation,
sportsmanofdistinction,memberof
manycommitteesandorganisations.He
patronisedBeerBikramTheatreof
Khariar,thefirstpermanentOdiastage
inthestate.
HewasanominatedmemberofOdisha
AdvisoryCouncil.Hewaselectedto
OdishaLegislativeAssemblyin1937
and1946fromKhariarAssembly
Constituency.Heplayedapivotalrolein
formationofOdishaasaseparate
provinceintheyear1936.Duetohis
leadershipKhariar Zamindarimerged
withthestateofOdishaleadingtofull
statehood.Hediedintheyear1946.
Biju Patnaik
Hewasbornin1916inCuttackdistrict
ofOdisha.HewasanIndianpolitician
andbusinessman.
Hegottrainingofpilotandwiththe
startingoftheSecondWorldWarhe
joinedtheRoyalIndianAirForceand
laterbecameheadofairtransport
command(1940-42).Hebecamethe
ChiefMinisterofOdishatwice,firstin
1961-1963andsecondin1990-1995.
Heisalsocreditedtomakestrongthe
basicinfrastructureofthestatethrough
manyprojects.SomeofthesearePortof
Paradip,OdishaAviationCentre,
BhubaneswarAirport,the
Cuttack–JagatpurMahanadiHighway
Bridge,OdishaUniversityof
AgricultureandTechnology,
Bhubaneswar,NALCO(National
AluminiumCompany),Talcher
ThermalPowerStation,BalimelaHydel
Project,HALSunabeda.Healso
establishedtheKalingaCupinFootball.
Hediedintheyear1997.
Chintamani Panigrahi
Hewasbornin1922inPuridistrict of
Odisha.HewasanIndian
IndependenceMovementactivist,a
politicalandsocialleaderfromOdisha.
Hebecameamemberof2ndLokSabha
in1957fromPuriConstituency.Hewas
re-electedtobeLokSabhain1967,
1971,1980and1984from
BhubaneswarConstituency.
349 350
Know Your State ODISHA
HeservedatvariouspostslikeMinister
ofStateforHomeAffairsfrom1986-88,
MinisterofStateintheMinistryof
Defencefrom1988-89andalsoserved
astheGovernorofManipurfrom
1989–1993.Hediedintheyear2000.
Nandini Satpathy
Shewasbornin1931inPithapur,
CuttackdistrictofOdisha.Shewasan
Indianpoliticianandauthor.Shewas
thefirstwomanChiefMinisterof
Odishafrom1972-1973.
ShewasawriterintheOdialanguage
andauthoredmanypoemsandshort
stories.ShewasconferredwithSahitya
BharatiSammanforthetranslationof
thefamousnovel‘Lajja’intoOdia
language.Sheisalsothefounderof
OdishaWomen’sReliefCommittee.
ShewaselectedtwicetoRajyaSabha
fromCongressparty.Shediedintheyear
2006.
Naveen Patnaik
Hewasbornon16thOctober,1946in
Cuttackdistrict.HeisanIndian
politicianandwriter.HisfatherBiju
Patnaikwasagreatfreedomfighterand
formerChiefMinisterofOdisha.Inearly
life,hewasawriterandstayedawayfrom
politics.Butafterthedeathofhisfather,
heenteredpolitics.
Fromtheyear2000,heisservingas
ChiefMinisterinOdisha.Heisthe
14thChiefMinisterofOdisha.Odisha
hasdevelopedinthefieldlikescienceand
technology,economy,etc,intheseyears.
HealsohaswrittenbooksnamelyA
SecondParadise,ADesertKingdomand
TheGardenofLife.
Shri Prasanna Acharya
Hewasbornon8thAugust,1949in
BargarhdistrictofOdisha.Heisan
politicianfromOdisha.Hewasa
memberofthe13thandthe14thLok
SabhaofIndia.Herepresentedthe
SambalpurConstituencyofOdishaand
isamemberoftheBijuJanataDal(BJD)
politicalparty.Heisthememberof
ParliamentofRajyaSabha,since2016.
Tathagata Satpathy
Hewasbornon1stApril,1956in
CuttackdistrictofOdisha.Heisa
politicianfromOdisha.Hehasbeena
memberofLokSabhafor4times(in
12th,14th,15thand16thLokSabha)
since2004.
Hewasre-electedforthefourthtimeas
amemberofLokSabhain2014.He
representstheDhenkanalConstituency
andisamemberoftheBijuJanataDal
(BJD)politicalparty.
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