FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Dr. Harekrushna Mahatab

_____Dr.Harekrushna Mahatab took birth in a small 'vaishya' family in Agarpada of Bhadrak district on 21st November 1899. After completing his matric from Bhadrakh High School he joined in BA in Revenshaw College. He left BA in 1921 and took part in the struggle for freedom. After that he took active part in politics and in serving for the country. He took part in 'Pada Yatra' of Odisha in 1921, which was started by Mahatma Gandhi.

_______He became the Sampadak of Balasore district congress committee in 1921. He became the President of Balasore district board in 1924. He was the President and Sampadak of Pradesh Congress Committee in 1929 and remained in the post for many times. When Subhas Chandra Bose was the president of congress he was the first person from Odisha to be the member of Congress working committee. Since he took part in active politics he always used to hold high post in congress party of the state and center. He took part in "Quit India Movement" in 1942 and was sent to jail from 1942 to 1945.
..............He became the Chief Minister of Odisha from 23-04-1946 to 12-05-1950 and congress party was the ruling party during this period. After India got its independence he was the first Chief Minister of Odisha. In 1950 he became the cabinet minister of Industry & Commerce during the ministry of Jawahar Lal Nehru. He became the Governor of Bombay in 1955. He became the Chief Minister of Odisha once again in 19-10-1956.
_______After Indian independence there were about 500 odd states in India. Mahatab played an important lead role in uniting these states into bigger ones for which his name shall be written in golden words in the Indian history forever. This was started from Nilagiri province of Odisha. After this the path opened for the other provinces to get united similarly. This was an excellent example of Mahatab's experience in politics and his diplomacy. He played an important role in this union of provinces into bigger states. His other works includes shifting of capital of Odisha from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar, plan for the building of Hirakud dam and plan for power generation at Duduma waterfall. He also owes credit in establishment of Odisha high court, inauguration of wireless center at Cuttack, establishing Utkal University at Bhubaneswar, establishment of steel plant at Rourkela etc He has also contributed a lot to the field of literature and journalism. He has written many fruitful books in English and Odia that includes history, novels, stories and poems. His book 'Gan Majlis' is a new step in the history of Odia literature. He started "Prajatantra" from 1923 as a weekly magazine. Now this is one of important daily newspapers existing in Odisha. He also started a magazine "Jhankar" in Odia literature and another children's magazine "Minabajar". He also started a function on literature, which was held every year and hosted by Prajatantra. He was honoured doctorate degree from the Andhra University, Utkal University and Sagar University. The Kendriya Sahitya Academy also awarded him. For around five decades he played an important role in the politics of Odisha. He was well versed and had gained expertise in politics and diplomacy. He was a freedom fighter, socialist, educator, philosopher, historian, writer, editor, administrator and a famous leader. He is popularly known as "Utkal Keshari". He left this mortal world on 2nd january 1987 for heavenly abode.

Moulabi Mohammad Hannif

______Moulabi Mohammad Hannif took birth in Kajee Mohalla near Purana Bajar of Bhadrak town on12th July 1899. While reading at Bhadrak High School he was greatly impressed by Dr. H.K. Mahatab. After successfully completing the entrance test, he got a govt. job as a Excise Inspector. By the call of Mahatma Gandhi he resigned from the Govt. job in the year 1921 and jumped to the Non co-Operation Movement. He propagated the Gandhian ideals like Khadi and National education among the peoples of Bhadrak. He established a School at Puruna Bajar of Bhadrak town on the same ideals of Satyabadi Banabidyalaya of Utkalamani Gopabandhu Das. In 1934 as the president of welcome committee he welcomes Mahatma Gandhi to Bhadrak during his Padayatra. During the Quit India Movement he was arrested by the British rulers due to his active involvement in the anti government campaign of undivided Balsore district

______Md. Hannif was not only a freedom fighter but also a social worker. In 1924 he was worked as Vice Chairman of the Local Board. For some time he was also the president of the Union Board. He was twice elected as Chairman of Balasore district board, once from 1939 to 1942 and again from 1945 to 1950. In independent India he was also a member of the provisional Parliament from 1950 to 1952. In 1952 he was elected to the Odisha state Legislative Assembly and crowned as the deputy speaker. He was popularly known as the Moulana Azad of Bhadrak. He left this mortal world on 6th October 1967 for heavenly abode.

Kanta Kabi Laxmikanta Mohapatra

____Kanta Kabi Laxmikanta Mohapatra is one of the great nationalist poets Odisha has ever produced. He took birth in a village named Talapada in Tihidi tahasil of Bhadrak district on 9th December 1888. He left high school education to join the Civil Disobedience Movement and was sent to jail by the British rulers. His patriotic poems created enthusiasm among the freedom fighters as well as the common mass. His creation Bande Utkala Janani is treated in our state at par with the national song. He left this mortal world on 24th february 1953 for heavenly abode.

Jatiya Kabi Banchanidhi Mohanty

_____Like Kanta Kabi, Shri Banchanidhi Mohanty was also a nationalist poet of Odisha. He took birth in Eram near Basudebpur of Bhadrak district on 20th April 1897.Shri Banchanidhi Mohanty was popularly known in Odisha as Jatiya Kabi(The National poet).True to the Gandhian spirit he was also directly involved in the Indian Freedom Movement and took part in the Salt Agitation and was sent to jail by the Britishers. He left this mortal world on 19th April 1938 for heavenly abode.

Mr. Nilamani Routray

_____Mr Nilamani Routray took birth in Mukundapur village of Bhadrak district on May 24, 1920. He was educated in Banaras Hindu University and Calcutta University. He then joined in the Indian National Congress and actively got himself involved in the freedom struggle and later on in politics. He participated in the general election of 1946 and was a member of the cabinet of Dr. Harekrushna Mahatab. Mr Routray won the Odisha Sahitya Acedamy award for his book " Smruti 'O' Anubhuti".

Mr. Routray was an active student leader and was first elected to the State Assembly in 1948. He was the Chief Minister from 1977 to 1980, and was also a Union Cabinet Minister in the V.P. Singh Government.

He served as the editor of the Odia daily, Prajatantra.

He left this mortal world on Oct 4 - 2004 for heavenly abode.