Utkalamani pandit gopabandhu Das
(9 October 1877 – 17 June 1928 (aged 50))
The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, has aptly written, “The second half of the 19th century gave birth to outstanding men and women in various parts of the country. The brilliance, social reforms, education, law and literature are astonishing. Shri Gopabandhu Das was one such nation builder”.
The age long hopes, yearning and prayers of the people of Orissa were fulfilled with the advent of Utkalamani Gopabandhu. He was the builder of modern Orissa and was the source of inspiration and ideals for her people. He dedicated himself completely for the country to that extent that he had to lose his only son in his bid to redress the suffering of others. He wanted a society free from poverty and ignorance where man could live with self-respect and would be able to develop his own consciousness. He vowed and worked throughout his life to achieve the objective
Recognising the noble standings of Gopabandu, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray on 28.6.1924, the veteran scientist and patriot of Bengal assigned the title of Utkalamani, (Jewel of Utkal) to his name. In 1909 he had started Satyavadi (M.E. National) school with Pandit Nilakantha Das and others in which Pandit Godavarish and Acharya Harihar also joined little later. The school soon became popular, for its qualitative and character building values. Along with Madhusudan Das he continued his struggle to arouse the people of Orissa to press their demands for the separate Orissa province through Utkal Union Conference. He gave it a new image by his practical works to keep up the cultural, literary and linguistic affinity and independent identity of Oriyas then living in Bihar, Bengal and other Provinces. At Bahadaguda of Dhalbhum he also started an Oriya M.E. School. Then in order to spread the Oriya language and literature he started weekly ‘ Samaja’ on the 4th October 1919.
His immortal words still inspire the younger generation.
“Let my body mingle with the dust of this Land,
And let my countrymen walk along my back.
Let all the holes in the road of freedom be filled
with my blood and bone,
And let my life be sacrificed when my people
awake into freedom.”
He was a poet par excellence. The idea of nationalism and love for Lord Jagannath and Puri has been emotionally described in his poem
“ The Indian-lotus blooms in the world- pond
And the Holy Nilachal is like pollens in one lotus,
And whenever I am in India
I am always in my room,
In my eyes the Indian stone is a holy stone,
And every place is as beloved as my Puri,
And all water is as holy as
the water of fine holy rivers,
And every holy place is my Nilachal.”
Bandira Atmakatha & Abakasha Chinta are his unique creations. He was versatile, genius, a freedom fighter, maker of modern Orissa, saviour of Oriya language, a social worker, and ideal teacher, philanthrophist, journalist, poet, philosopher and a preacher of Jagannath cult. Died on 17th June 1928.
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