ODISHA LAWYERS' FORUM & ALL INDIA MADHU MEMORIAL FORUM DISCUSS WITH JUSTICE ISHRAT MASROOR QUDDUSI FOR CONFERRING POSTHUMOUS BHARATA RATNA ON UTKAL GOURAV MADHUSUDAN DAS
Bhubaneswar(28/04/2024): The members of All Odisha Lawyers' Forum and All India Madhu Memorial Forum discussed with Former Judge of Orissa High Court Justice Ishrat Masroor Quddusi for conferring posthumous Bharata Ratna on Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das popularly known as Madhu Babu. The Forum under the leadership of its convenor Dr.Lingaraj Sahoo handed a memorandum to Justice Ishrat Masroor Quddusi requesting him to take steps for fulfillment of their long-standing demands including establishment of Madhu Babu's statue at Parliament, declaration of holiday on Madhu Babu's jayanti (birth anniversary) and renaming of the road near the High Court with the name of Madhu Babu. The memorandum was submitted by a delegation comprising Saroj Kumar Sahoo, senior advocate Harapriya Samantaray and Bishnupriya Prusty on the occasion of Madhu Babu jayanti during the visit of Quddusi to Odisha. Dr.Lingaraj Sahoo said, "The one and only Odia whose life and birth was indispensable for the existence of the state of Odisha is our beloved Madhu Babu, the popular name of Madhusudan Das, hence epitomized as the PRABADA PURUSA OF ODISHA who played a pivotal role not only in formation of this province in British India, but was really torch bearer of forming Linguistic Provinces in independent India without deviating from the polity of national mainstream which is evident from his thought provoking essays, poems and speeches delivered at different point of time.
Since 1954, we have many great leaders who have been awarded the coveted Bharat Ratna to the complete exclusion of any Odia and now it is right time to amend the historic injustice done to Odisha.
Due to his unbridled ambition, dedication, and action, with indomitable courage and intelligence he has carved a niche for himself in the heart and minds of millions of Odia people.
Because of his tireless support and effort through Utkal Sammilani, this province was created by amalgamation of different Odia-lying tracts of the then-Madras Presidency, Bengal Presidency and Central Province; hence called as the real “Garibaldi” of Odisha." Madhu Babu was first Odia to be an M.A., LL.B, member of Provincial Legislative Council and Central Legislative Assembly and Minister.
He was also first Odia to visit England for his mother land.
Madhu Babu was a pioneer not only in the field of law, but also cooperative movement, student movement, cottage industry and women empowerment.
Besides this, as as Nationalist in Odisha and first lawyer of this land, he was a great entrepreneur for industrialization, social reformer in the field of female education and abolition of caste system in Odisha and even impressed upon Mahatma Gandhi during his visit to Odisha through his noble job of social service.
So it is in this context, we urge upon you to do the needful so that our Madhu Babu should be awarded Bharat Ratna for his exceptional public services, Dr.Sahoo added. In support of the genuine demand, signatures have been collected from 20 states in India.
The signature campaign was started from Kolkata.
It has covered Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati, Andaman, Bengaluru, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Tripura, Assam, Mizoram and New Delhi.
