Bhubaneswar, Oct 9: The people of Odisha on Thursday paid rich tribute to ‘Utkalamani’ Pandit Gopabandhu Das, a revered freedom fighter, social worker, journalist, and littérateur, on his birth anniversary.

Born on October 9, 1877, in Suando village of Puri district, Das remains a towering figure in Odisha’s cultural and political history.

Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati took to social media and stated that Gopabandhu Das’ contributions to the freedom struggle and his efforts to enrich Odia language and literature will forever be remembered. “His selfless service and noble ideals make him an eternal inspiration,” the Governor posted on X.

ଉତ୍କଳମଣି ପଣ୍ଡିତ #ଗୋପବନ୍ଧୁଦାସ ଙ୍କ ଜୟନ୍ତୀରେ ମହାମହିମ ରାଜ୍ୟପାଳ ଡ଼ଃ ହରି ବାବୁ କମ୍ଭମପାଟି ଭକ୍ତିପୂତ ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି ଅର୍ପଣ କରିଛନ୍ତି । ସ୍ୱାଧୀନତା ସଂଗ୍ରାମରେ ତାଙ୍କର ଅବଦାନ, ନିଃସ୍ୱାର୍ଥପର ସେବା ଏବଂ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷା ଓ ସାହିତ୍ୟକୁ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ କରିବାରେ ମହନୀୟ ଉଦ୍ୟମ ପାଇଁ ସେ ସଦା ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ହୋଇରହିବେ ବୋଲି ମାନ୍ୟବର ରାଜ୍ୟପାଳ… pic.twitter.com/QlsL6tCPss

— Governor Odisha (@GovernorOdisha) October 9, 2025

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy CM KV Singh Deo, BJP state president Manmohan Samal, and other dignitaries offered floral tributes at Das’s statue on the premises of the Odisha Assembly. Majhi described Das as “a key architect of Odisha’s separate provincial identity” and “a symbol of sacrifice and patriotism.”

ଆଜି ଉତ୍କଳମଣି ପଣ୍ଡିତ ଗୋପବନ୍ଧୁ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଜୟନ୍ତୀ ଅବସରରେ ବିଧାନସଭା ପରିସରରେ ତାଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତିମୂର୍ତ୍ତିରେ ମାଲ୍ୟାର୍ପଣ କରି ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି ଜଣାଇଲି। ଓଡ଼ିଶା ପାଇଁ ତାଙ୍କର ଉତ୍ସର୍ଗୀକୃତ ଜୀବନ, ଅପ୍ରତିମ ତ୍ୟାଗ ଏବଂ ନିଃସ୍ୱାର୍ଥପର ସେବା ଚିରଦିନ ଆମ ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରେରଣାର ଉତ୍ସ ହୋଇ ରହିବ। ସାହିତ୍ୟ, ସାମ୍ବାଦିକତା ଓ ଶିକ୍ଷା କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ… pic.twitter.com/pFDHrdPokK

— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) October 9, 2025

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also took to social media to pay rich tributes to Utkalamani on his birth anniversary, calling him a great freedom fighter and pioneer of a separate Odisha state. Pradhan said Das’ principles, ideals, and dedication to social service will continue to inspire generations of youth across the country.

ମହାନ ସ୍ଵାଧୀନତା ସଂଗ୍ରାମୀ ଓ ସ୍ଵତନ୍ତ୍ର ଉତ୍କଳ ପ୍ରଦେଶ ଗଠନର ପୁରୋଧା 'ଉତ୍କଳମଣି' ପଣ୍ଡିତ ଗୋପବନ୍ଧୁ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଜୟନ୍ତୀ ଅବସରରେ ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି । ତାଙ୍କର ନୀତି, ଆଦର୍ଶ ଓ ସମାଜସେବା ସର୍ବଦା ଯୁବପିଢିଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରେରିତ କରିବ । pic.twitter.com/zJpJW1WCfd

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) October 9, 2025

Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in State Assembly, Naveen Patnaik called Das “the life force of the Odia community,” praising his lifelong dedication to public service and cultural upliftment.

ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଜାତି ପ୍ରାଣ ଉତ୍କଳମଣି ପଣ୍ଡିତ ଗୋପବନ୍ଧୁ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଜୟନ୍ତୀରେ ମୋର ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି ଜଣାଉଛି। ଲୋକଙ୍କ ସେବାରେ ସେ ନିଜ ଜୀବନକୁ ଉତ୍ସର୍ଗ କରିଥିଲେ। ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷା ଓ ସାହିତ୍ୟକୁ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ କରିବା ସହ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ଉନ୍ନତିରେ ତାଙ୍କ ତ୍ୟାଗପୂତ ଜୀବନ ସର୍ବଦା ପ୍ରେରଣାର ଉତ୍ସ। pic.twitter.com/36XyCAFhmJ

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) October 9, 2025

OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das echoed also paid tributes to Utkalmani and said he was the pioneer of the freedom struggle and the gem of Utkal. "He was a symbol of sacrifice, service, and humanity, and dedicated his life to serving the distressed and the poor. His ideals and teachings continue to inspire the people of Odisha even today," Das said.

ସ୍ଵାଧୀନତା ସଂଗ୍ରାମର ଅଗ୍ରଣୀ, ଉତ୍କଳମଣି ପଣ୍ଡିତ ଗୋପବନ୍ଧୁ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଜୟନ୍ତୀରେ ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି।

ସେ ତ୍ୟାଗ, ସେବା ଓ ମାନବତାର ପ୍ରତୀକ ଥିଲେ ଓ ଦୁଃଖୀ-ଦରିଦ୍ରଙ୍କ ସେବାରେ ଜୀବନ ଉତ୍ସର୍ଗ କରିଥିଲେ।

ତାଙ୍କ ଆଦର୍ଶ ଓ ଶିକ୍ଷା ଆଜି ମଧ୍ୟ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ବାସୀଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରେରଣା ଦେଉଛି। pic.twitter.com/T7vOOD0jy8

— Bhakta Charan Das (@BhaktaCharanDas) October 9, 2025

Gopabandhu Das was the first President of the Congress party in Odisha from 1920 to 1928. He was honorued with the title ‘Utkalmani’ (Gem of Odisha) by Prafulla Chandra Roy for his unwavering service to the people. His work in education, literature, and journalism continues to inspire generations.

Das passed away on July 17, 1928, after a prolonged illness, but his ideals remain deeply embedded in Odisha’s collective memory.