Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today paid humble tribute to legendary freedom fighter Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das on his 142nd birth anniversary here on Wednesday.
The birth anniversary of legendary Odia freedom fighter Utkalmani is commemorated as Gopabandhu Jayanti across the State today.
Born on 9 October 1877 in Suando village, near Puri, Gopabandhu Das was a social worker, reformer, political activist, journalist, poet and essayist. He was known for his selfless service to people and society.
ମହାନ ସ୍ଵାଧୀନତା ସଂଗ୍ରାମୀ ତଥା ସମାଜର ଉନ୍ନତି ପାଇଁ ଜୀବନକୁ ଉତ୍ସର୍ଗ କରିଥିବା ଉତ୍କଳମଣି ପଣ୍ଡିତ ଗୋପବନ୍ଧୁ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଜୟନ୍ତୀରେ ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି। ସେବା ଓ ତ୍ୟାଗର ଅନନ୍ୟ ଉଦାହରଣ ପଣ୍ଡିତ ଗୋପବନ୍ଧୁଙ୍କ ଜୀବନୀ ଓ ବିଚାରଧାରା ସର୍ବଦା ପ୍ରେରଣାଦାୟୀ। pic.twitter.com/ia3OvNGGfB
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) October 9, 2019
He is one of the trinity who helped Odisha to come into being as the first official linguistic state in India in 1936.
Described as the ‘Gandhi of Odisha’, his immense contributions to the cause of Odisha and Odia society have earned him the title ‘Utkalmani’ or ‘Gem of Odisha’.
Das was the founder editor of the vernacular daily “Samaj”.
He died on June 17, 1928.