Cuttack, Aug 23: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan graced the Diamond Jubilee celebration of Kamalakanta Bidyapitha, one of Cuttack’s oldest educational institutions, here on Saturday and called the school a beacon of leadership and national pride, urging students to embrace Swadeshi values and develop a deep sense of patriotism.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister emphasized the importance of nurturing students not just academically but also emotionally and culturally. He invoked the legacy of Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das, who founded Utkal Tannery not for commerce but to ignite Swadeshi consciousness. He also encouraged students to follow in the footsteps of icons like Dharmpada and Baji Rout, becoming symbols of courage and national service.

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Pradhan paid tribute to the school’s founder, the late Mahant Maharaj Kamalakanta Dev, whose generosity led to the establishment of the institution near the banks of the Mahanadi. He praised the school’s six-decade contribution to education and called for collective responsibility in its continued development.

Highlighting Odisha’s intellectual capital, Pradhan noted that nearly one crore students, about a quarter of the state’s population, are enrolled in institutions from Anganwadi centers to universities. He stressed the need to equip this student force with global skills to fulfill the vision of a “Developed Odisha by 2036” and a “Developed India by 2047.”

The Minister reaffirmed the central government’s commitment to strengthening educational infrastructure through the “double engine” governance model and emphasized collaborative efforts to enhance foundational learning across the state.

During the event, Pradhan unveiled the school souvenir titled “Aa Pheria Mo Pila Din” and paid homage to Kamalakanta Dev.

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Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, and MLAs Prakash Chandra Sethi and Souvik Biswal were, among others, present on the occasion.

Earlier in the day, Minister Pradhan attended the 175th Annual Awards Ceremony of Ravenshaw Collegiate School, Cuttack, where he praised the institution as a “factory of leadership” and urged society to take collective responsibility for student nutrition and holistic development.