CM Majhi pays tribute to Utkalamani Gopabandhu Das on birth anniversary
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi marked the birth anniversary of Utkalamani Pandit Gopabandhu Das on October 9, paying homage to the freedom fighter and social reformer whose advocacy was central to the creation of a separate Odisha Province in 1936.
Key Takeaways
CM Mohan Charan Majhi offered tributes to Utkalamani Pandit Gopabandhu Das on his birth anniversary, October 9, 2026 .
Gopabandhu Das ( 1877–1928 ) was a freedom fighter, social reformer, journalist, and champion of Odia linguistic identity.
He co-led the movement to unify Odia-speaking territories into a single province; Odisha was created as a separate province on April 1, 1936 .
He founded the Satyabadi School and the Utkal Sammilani , and ran the newspaper Samaj to mobilise public opinion.
His title Utkalamani — 'Jewel of Utkal' — reflects the reverence Odisha continues to hold for his lifelong sacrifice.
On the birth anniversary of one of Odisha's most revered sons, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday, October 9, 2026, offered his respects to Utkalamani Pandit Gopabandhu Das — freedom fighter, social reformer, and a founding architect of the separate Odisha Province movement.
Posting in both Odia and English, CM Majhi described Gopabandhu Das as a symbol of 'niḥswārthapara sebā o utsargīkṛta tyāga' (selfless service and dedicated sacrifice), calling him one of the principal helmsmen behind the formation of a distinct Odisha state. The tribute reflects the enduring place Gopabandhu Das holds in the collective memory of Odisha.
Who was Utkalamani Pandit Gopabandhu Das?
Pandit Gopabandhu Das (1877–1928) is among the most celebrated figures in Odia history. Born in Suando village, Puri district, he earned the title Utkalamani — 'Jewel of Utkal' — for his towering contributions to Odia society, literature, and political awakening. A lawyer by training, he chose public service over personal comfort, founding the Satyabadi School and the Utkal Sammilani organisation, both of which became pillars of the Odia identity movement.
The campaign for a separate Odisha Province
Gopabandhu Das was a leading voice demanding that Odia-speaking territories — then scattered across Bengal, Central Provinces, and Madras — be unified into a single administrative unit. His relentless advocacy, along with journalism through the newspaper Samaj, kept the cause alive at a time when colonial administrators showed little interest. Odisha was finally carved out as a separate province on April 1, 1936 — eight years after his death — a testament to the foundation he and his contemporaries built.
A legacy that outlives political generations
Across party lines, Gopabandhu Das remains a unifying figure in Odisha's political and cultural landscape. His birthday is observed as a state occasion, and institutions ranging from schools to government schemes bear his name. CM Majhi's tribute underscores how his ideals of grassroots service and linguistic pride continue to frame political discourse in the state even a century later.
A man who gave up comfort for a classroom, a courtroom, and a cause — Gopabandhu Das did not live to see the province he fought for. But every October 9, Odisha remembers that the state exists, in no small part, because he did.
Point of View
But they carry more than ceremonial weight — they anchor a ruling party's legitimacy to the state's foundational narrative. For CM Majhi and the BJP, invoking the Utkalamani's legacy of selfless service is also a soft assertion of cultural continuity with Odisha's pre-Independence reform tradition. The bilingual post — Odia first, English second — signals an intentional appeal to both local identity and national visibility. With Odisha's regional pride remaining a potent political current, associating governance with Gopabandhu Das's ideal of public welfare is a calibrated reminder of the ideological aspirations the state's electorate still responds to.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Utkalamani Pandit Gopabandhu Das?
Utkalamani Pandit Gopabandhu Das (1877–1928) was an Odia freedom fighter, social reformer, lawyer, and journalist who played a central role in the movement for a separate Odisha Province. He founded the Satyabadi School, led the Utkal Sammilani, and published the newspaper Samaj to advance Odia identity and welfare.
What is Gopabandhu Das's birth anniversary date?
Pandit Gopabandhu Das was born on October 9, 1877. His birth anniversary is observed as a significant occasion in Odisha, marked by state tributes and cultural events.
Why is Gopabandhu Das called Utkalamani?
He is called Utkalamani — meaning 'Jewel of Utkal' — in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to Odia society, literature, social reform, and the political movement that ultimately led to the formation of a separate Odisha Province.
When was Odisha formed as a separate province?
Odisha was carved out as a separate province on April 1, 1936, unifying Odia-speaking territories that had previously been divided across Bengal, the Central Provinces, and the Madras Presidency. Gopabandhu Das was among the earliest and most prominent advocates for this separation.
Why did Odisha CM Mohan Majhi pay tribute to Gopabandhu Das?
CM Mohan Charan Majhi paid tribute on October 9, 2026, the birth anniversary of Pandit Gopabandhu Das, honouring his legacy as a freedom fighter, social reformer, and architect of the separate Odisha Province movement.
