Madhusudan_Das

His Life and Achievements: 101
I convened a meeting of ladies and told them that we should raise
at least Rs. 1,500 within ten days. My father was getting weaker daily.
My two brothers the late Chandra Kumar and Jitendra Kumar arrived
in due course, my late sister Sudhanshu Bala was here. We four
brothers and sisters passed our time by his bedside. Crowds of people
came daily to see him and to seek his blessings and many stayed
at night. Col. Palit was attending him. One day he told my father
"You have no disease, only for want of food you are feeling weak.
You must have plenty of nourishment." My father asked the doctor
a question "Is there any medicine in your science, doctor, to save a
man whose call has come from above ? My call has come and I am
ready to depart in peace." My late brother Chandra knelt down by
his bedside and asked him "Dada have you no wish to live ? Why
then do you always talk of leaving us ?" He said, "No, for I could
not do any good to you all but I would like to live only for Orissa
and to see my dream of a greater Orissa is fulfilled."
Daily when people were coming to see him, he wished them
goodbye. With some he discussed the future of Orissa and its problems.
He had a glimpse of the New Province of Orissa. He asked me in
which Province I shall live after his death for I had houses in Calcutta,
Cuttack and Patna. I replied, "You know very well what my position
is in Patna and all about my activities there. There I have many real
friends. I can also make a position for myself by my activities in
Calcutta if I stay there too. But can I have the same position in Orissa
? You know your people well and their feelings towards me. I am
not wanted here. I shall always suffer from inferiority complex and
"dog in a manger " policy. But as you want me to stay here, I shall
do so till I die. The last part of my life will be spent here. I shall
severe my connection with other provinces." He was pleased with my
decision and blessed me and said "Will you be able to sacrifice your
ambition and stay in this house till you die." I said "Yes, I promise."
On the 3rd of February he seemed to be much better and told
his friends not to take the trouble to stay here at night. He took a
few teaspoons of rice as doctor advised. In the evening he reminded
me to go to the ladies meeting for the collection of the Bihar
Earthquake fund. I and my sister left him quiet and calm with a wish
that he should sleep. I left his servant to stay near him. I was absent
only an hour. On my arrival his bearer told me that my father did