Homage / Dharmendra Pradhan Pays Tribute to Bishnu Sethi on Fourth Death Anniversary, Calls Him ‘An Idea and Institution’

Bhubaneswar, Sept 19: Sambalpur MP and former Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday joined a solemn tribute programme in Bhadrak’s Tihidi to mark the fourth death anniversary of senior BJP leader and former MLA Bishnu Charan Sethi. Recalling his long association with Sethi, Pradhan described him as “not just a person but an idea and an institution,” underscoring his enduring influence in Odisha politics.

ଭଦ୍ରକ ତିହିଡ଼ି ଠାରେ ଧାମନଗରର ପୂର୍ବତନ ବିଧାୟକ, ଓଡ଼ିଶା ବିଧାନସଭାର ପୂର୍ବତନ ବିରୋଧୀ ଦଳର ଉପନେତା, ସ୍ୱର୍ଗତ ବିଷ୍ଣୁ ଚରଣ ସେଠୀଙ୍କ ଚତୁର୍ଥ ଶ୍ରାଦ୍ଧବାର୍ଷିକୀ ଅବସରରେ ଆୟୋଜିତ ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମରେ ଯୋଗଦେଇ 'ବିଷ୍ଣୁ ବିଭବ' ଓ 'ଘାସଫୁଲ'ର ବିଶେଷ ପତ୍ରିକା ତଥା ସଂସ୍କରଣ ସହ 'ଘାସଫୁଲ' ନାମରେ ଏକ ୱେବସାଇଟ୍ ଲୋକାର୍ପଣ କରିବାର… pic.twitter.com/5sfrsAjPdj

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) September 19, 2026

The event saw the release of commemorative works including the website Ghas Phool, the volume Bishnu Vaibhav, and a coffee‑table book. Pradhan noted that he and Sethi had entered the Assembly together in 2000, sharing committees and responsibilities. He highlighted Sethi’s early association with Kharavela Swain’s press and his entry into politics through Manmohan Samal, before emerging as a prominent face during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

Pradhan praised Sethi’s fearless advocacy for the poor and marginalized, his involvement with Bhadrak’s social organisations, and his ability to raise people’s issues with conviction. “His ideals should inspire future generations,” he said, expressing hope that Sethi’s son Suryabanshi Suraj would carry forward his father’s values.
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The MP also recalled Sethi’s dedication even during illness, when he insisted on sending flood relief before seeking medical care. He stressed that Ghas Phool should serve as a platform to carry forward Sethi’s philosophy, bringing society’s struggles to light through literature.

In his address, Pradhan made two social appeals in Sethi’s memory: ensuring nutrition for children from Anganwadi to Class VI, with fruit distribution at least once a year, and collective efforts to eliminate single‑use plastic. “Public cooperation alongside government measures will make these initiatives more effective,” he said.