Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday, 2 June 2026 paid homage to freedom fighter and former Odisha Chief Minister Bishwanath Das on his death anniversary, honouring his contributions to both the movement for a separate Odisha province and India's independence struggle.

Posting on X in Odia, Chief Minister Majhi offered what he described as 'bhaktiputa shraddhanjali' ('devout and reverent tribute'), saying that Das's contributions to the state's progress — from the movement for a separate Odisha province to the national freedom struggle — were 'incomparable and ever memorable.' He added that Das's ideals of 'self-respect, service, and sacrifice' remain a source of inspiration for all.

Context

Bishwanath Das was a prominent Odia freedom fighter who served as Chief Minister of Odisha from 1963 to 1967. He was an active participant in the agitation for a separate Odisha province, a movement that culminated in the formation of the state on 1 April 1936 — making Odisha the first province in India to be carved out on a linguistic basis.

Das also played a role in India's broader independence movement, cementing his place as a dual symbol of regional identity and national patriotism in Odia public memory.

Policy Backdrop

Indian state chief ministers across party lines regularly issue public tributes on the birth and death anniversaries of independence-era figures, a practice that links present-day governance with the historical contributions of regional leaders to nation-building.

In Odisha, such commemorations carry particular weight given the state's distinct journey — from the 1936 provincial formation to active participation in the freedom struggle — and serve to reinforce Odia identity within the larger national narrative. CM Majhi, who took office in June 2024, has continued this tradition as part of his administration's public engagement.

Stakeholders and Impact

The tribute is directed at Odia citizens broadly, and particularly at those who identify with the state's pre-independence linguistic and cultural agitation. For the BJP-led government in Odisha, honouring figures like Bishwanath Das reinforces a narrative of continuity between the state's founding generation and current leadership.

Political leaders and historians in the state view such anniversaries as opportunities to keep early 20th-century Odia contributions to Indian independence visible in public discourse, especially among younger generations.

What's Next

State-level commemorative events or educational initiatives referencing early Odisha leaders may be organised around future anniversaries of key milestones such as the 1 April 1936 formation of the province. CM Majhi's public tribute signals that the current administration intends to keep the legacies of founding-era leaders central to Odisha's political and cultural calendar.