Pradhan hails Gopabandhu Das statue unveiling at Lajpat Bhawan
Synopsis
President Draupadi Murmu unveiled a statue of Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das — Odia freedom fighter, social reformer, and founder of the Samaj newspaper — at Lajpat Bhawan in New Delhi on 3 August 2026, in a ceremony hailed by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as a moment of national pride for Odisha.
Key Takeaways
President Draupadi Murmu unveiled the statue of Pandit Gopabandhu Das at Lajpat Bhawan, New Delhi on 3 August 2026 .
Gopabandhu Das, known as Utkalmani (Jewel of Utkal), was a freedom fighter, social reformer, and founder of the Odia newspaper Samaj .
He also founded and served as vice-president of the Lok Sevak Mandal , a voluntary service organisation.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan described the national-level installation as 'a moment of pride and self-respect for all of Odisha.' President Murmu is the first person from Odisha to hold the nation's highest constitutional office, adding historic significance to her role in the ceremony.
A century after Pandit Gopabandhu Das walked out of courtrooms and classrooms to serve flood-ravaged Odisha, his likeness is being installed in the heart of New Delhi — a national salute to a man his people call Utkalmani, the 'Jewel of Utkal'. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on Monday, 3 August 2026 that President Draupadi Murmu would unveil the statue at Lajpat Bhawan, New Delhi, in a ceremony that carries deep resonance for every Odia.
Who was Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das?
Pandit Gopabandhu Das was a freedom fighter, social reformer, and journalist whose life was defined by sacrifice. He founded the Lok Sevak Mandal, a voluntary service organisation, and served as its former vice-president, mobilising relief during devastating floods in Odisha in the early twentieth century. He also founded Samaj, an Odia-language newspaper that became a voice for the people of the region during the independence struggle. For generations of Odias, his name is synonymous with selfless public service and patriotism.
Murmu's presence and what it means for Odisha
President Draupadi Murmu, herself the first person from Odisha to hold the nation's highest constitutional office, presiding over this unveiling adds a layer of historic symmetry. Pradhan described the installation of the statue at the national level as 'a moment of pride and self-respect for all of Odisha.' The choice of Lajpat Bhawan — a venue in New Delhi used for official and commemorative events — signals that this is not a regional ceremony but a formal national recognition.
A recurring pattern of national-level recognition
Statue unveilings of pre-independence regional figures in Delhi have become a recurring feature of cultural heritage commemoration, bringing figures from non-Hindi-speaking states into the national public imagination. Gopabandhu Das joins a gallery of reformers, journalists, and freedom fighters whose contributions were rooted in their home states but whose legacies belong to the whole country. For Odisha, a state that produced India's first tribal woman President, the moment carries particular weight.
Pradhan, a senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament from Odisha, has long championed the state's cultural heritage on national platforms. His post, written in Odia, addressed the event directly to his Odia-speaking audience — a deliberate choice that underlines the community pride at the centre of the occasion.
Gopabandhu Das's message — that service to the people is the highest form of patriotism — is as alive in Odisha's schools and newspapers as it was a hundred years ago. Today, it is carved in stone in New Delhi.
Point of View
Which the BJP has sought to deepen its presence in. Having President Murmu, herself from Odisha, preside over the ceremony is a carefully calibrated signal: it fuses constitutional prestige with Odia pride. For Dharmendra Pradhan, a senior BJP leader from the state, championing this moment publicly reinforces his role as Odisha's most prominent voice in the Union Cabinet. The choice to post in Odia rather than Hindi or English suggests the message was aimed squarely at a home constituency.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Pandit Gopabandhu Das?
Pandit Gopabandhu Das, known as Utkalmani or 'Jewel of Utkal,' was an Odia freedom fighter, social reformer, and journalist who founded the Lok Sevak Mandal and the Odia newspaper Samaj. He is revered in Odisha for his selfless service, patriotism, and role in the independence movement.
Where was the Gopabandhu Das statue unveiled?
The statue was unveiled at Lajpat Bhawan in New Delhi, a venue used for official and commemorative events, on 3 August 2026.
Who unveiled the statue of Gopabandhu Das in New Delhi?
President of India Draupadi Murmu unveiled the statue of Pandit Gopabandhu Das at Lajpat Bhawan, New Delhi.
What is the Lok Sevak Mandal founded by Gopabandhu Das?
The Lok Sevak Mandal was a voluntary service organisation founded by Pandit Gopabandhu Das. He served as its vice-president and used it to mobilise community service and relief efforts in Odisha.
Why did Dharmendra Pradhan post about the Gopabandhu Das statue?
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a senior BJP leader and MP from Odisha, posted to mark the national-level recognition of a revered Odia cultural icon, calling it a moment of pride and self-respect for all of Odisha.
