CM Majhi pays floral tribute to Bagmi Bishwanath Kar at Assembly
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi paid a floral tribute at the statue of Bagmi Bishwanath Kar — orator, journalist and freedom fighter — at the Odisha Legislative Assembly on the occasion of Kar's death anniversary on October 19, 2026.
Key Takeaways
CM Mohan Charan Majhi garlanded the statue of Bagmi Bishwanath Kar at the Odisha Legislative Assembly on October 19, 2026 .
The occasion was the annual death anniversary ( shraddhbarshiki ) of Bishwanath Kar.
Bagmi Bishwanath Kar was a celebrated orator, journalist and freedom fighter known for his role in the early 20th-century Odia language movement .
The tribute follows standard official protocol in Indian states of honouring regional icons and freedom fighters on their death anniversaries.
CM Majhi has been in office since June 2024 , representing the BJP as Odisha's Chief Minister.
On the death anniversary of celebrated Odia orator, journalist and freedom fighter Bagmi Bishwanath Kar, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi paid his respects on Monday, October 19, 2026, garlanding Kar's statue within the premises of the Odisha Legislative Assembly in Bhubaneswar.
The Chief Minister's Office shared the moment on X, noting that CM Majhi offered floral tributes — malyarpana [garland offering] — at the statue and rendered his homage on the occasion of the shraddhbarshiki [death anniversary] of the revered figure.
Who was Bagmi Bishwanath Kar?
Bagmi Bishwanath Kar was a prominent figure in the early 20th-century Odia language movement and India's independence struggle. Known as Bagmi — a title meaning 'the eloquent one' or 'the great orator' — he was a journalist and public intellectual whose voice shaped Odia cultural and political identity during a formative era. His statue at the Odisha Legislative Assembly places him among the select historical figures the state honours within its most consequential public institution.Tribute as official protocol — and as a signal
State governments across India observe the death anniversaries of freedom fighters and regional icons with formal floral tributes — a practice that is both ceremonial protocol and a quiet assertion of cultural continuity. For Chief Minister Majhi, who took office in June 2024 as Odisha's first BJP Chief Minister, such observances carry an additional dimension: they signal respect for Odisha's pre-independence Odia-identity movement, a heritage that cuts across party lines and resonates deeply with the state's electorate. The tribute at the Assembly's statue — in the very building where Odisha's elected representatives deliberate — underscores that Kar's legacy is considered not merely cultural history but living political heritage.Point of View
Honouring a figure central to the Odia language movement reinforces the BJP's effort to project itself as a custodian of Odisha's distinct heritage — a positioning that has strategic value in a state where Odia pride has historically mobilised voters. The choice of the Legislative Assembly as the tribute venue is also significant: it elevates Kar from literary icon to constitutional ancestor. Such observances, while ceremonial, quietly shape how a government narrates continuity between pre-independence idealism and present-day governance.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Bagmi Bishwanath Kar?
Bagmi Bishwanath Kar was a prominent Odia journalist, orator and freedom fighter who played a significant role in the early 20th-century Odia language movement and India's independence struggle. The title 'Bagmi' denotes his reputation as a great orator.
Why did CM Majhi garland the statue of Bishwanath Kar?
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi paid floral tribute to Bagmi Bishwanath Kar on the occasion of Kar's death anniversary on October 19, 2026, as part of the official commemorative observance at the Odisha Legislative Assembly.
Where is the statue of Bagmi Bishwanath Kar located?
The statue of Bagmi Bishwanath Kar is located within the premises of the Odisha Legislative Assembly in Bhubaneswar.
Who is Mohan Charan Majhi?
Mohan Charan Majhi is the Chief Minister of Odisha, in office since June 2024, and is the state's first Chief Minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
What is a shraddhbarshiki tribute in Indian official protocol?
A 'shraddhbarshiki' refers to the annual death anniversary of a public figure. It is common practice in Indian states for senior officials to mark such occasions by garlanding statues of freedom fighters and regional icons as a formal act of remembrance.
