Bhubaneswar: Odisha marked its 91st year as a separate province on Wednesday with the state-level Odisha Day celebration held at Suando village in Satyabadi, Puri district – the birthplace of Utkalamani Pandit Gopabandhu Das, one of state’s most revered freedom fighters and social reformers.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi presided over the occasion, explaining that the state government has made it a practice to hold the annual celebration at the birthplaces of Odisha’s great sons, so that the people and youth of the state remain connected to their memory and are inspired by their sacrifice and dedication.
Last year, the event was held at the birthplace of Utkala Gaurava Madhusudan Das.
Before the main programme, the chief minister visited Gopabandhu Das’s birth room, known as the Shathighara, and paid his respects to Utkalamani’s family deity, Lord Radha Binodbihary. He garlanded the statue of Utkalamani at Gopabandhu Park and toured the Gopabandhu Museum before attending the public meeting at Utkalamani Gopabandhu Memorial College, Sakhigopal.
Addressing a large gathering, Majhi invoked Gopabandhu’s life as an enduring lesson for the nation. “A person born in an ordinary place, using ordinary means, can become godlike through the strength of his deeds,” he said in a lengthy post on X, calling Pandit Gopabandhu an example not just for Odisha but for the entire country.
He added that Gopabandhu’s suffering, hardships, and sacrifices have fundamentally transformed the destiny of the Odia people.
The CM reaffirmed commitments made during the Satyabadi Mahotsava, announcing that a comprehensive Rs 585 crore development plan for the Satyabadi Forest School and surrounding area will be implemented shortly. Of this, Rs 495 crore will be directed towards the redevelopment of the Satyabadi area, including the construction of a Heritage Corridor.
The remaining Rs 90 crore will go towards the revival of the historic Bakulabana, which will be transformed into a cultural, spiritual, and educational centre while preserving its historical identity.
The CM also outlined an ambitious vision for Puri and the surrounding district. A world-class Shri Jagannath Museum and Library will be established in Puri at Rs 1,000 crore. Historic and spiritual sites, including the Gundicha Temple, Emar Math, and Raghunandan Library, will also be restored to their former glory.
