Madhusudan_Das
Madhusudan_Das
Madhusudan_Das
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APPENDIX : 7<br />
MADHUSUDAN DAS<br />
NILAMANI SENAPATI<br />
<strong>Madhusudan</strong> <strong>Das</strong> started the Utkal Sammilani with the object<br />
of amalgamating the Oriya speaking tracts lying then in the three<br />
provinces of Bengal, Madras and Central Provinces. He had the<br />
sympathy of the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal. This led to interesting<br />
and important developments. When the Utkal Sammilani was held at<br />
Cuttack, the Commissioner, who was unaware of the attitude of the<br />
higher officers issued a circular prohibiting Government servants<br />
attending the Sammilani. Sailabala (daughter of <strong>Madhusudan</strong> <strong>Das</strong>)<br />
went to Calcutta, met the Lieut. Governor and obtained an order to<br />
the Commissioner of Orissa not only to withdraw the circular, but<br />
to attend himself. This was a slap in the cheek of the Commissioner<br />
and raised <strong>Madhusudan</strong> <strong>Das</strong> and Sailabala sky high. Another important<br />
development was that <strong>Madhusudan</strong> <strong>Das</strong>, who expected that his dream<br />
of Orissa could be realised only as a gift from the British Government,<br />
declined to join the Indian National Congress which did not have<br />
British sympathy. When the British declared that Orissa would be a<br />
separate Province and outlying Oriya speaking tracts would be<br />
amalgamated with Orissa, it was too late for <strong>Madhusudan</strong> <strong>Das</strong> to<br />
change his politics.<br />
My first contact with <strong>Madhusudan</strong> <strong>Das</strong> was by correspondence.<br />
While in the Patna College (1915-17) my scholarship of Rs. 25/- was<br />
,more than I needed. So I used to give Rs. 5/- to an Oriya friend<br />
whose scholarship was not as good. I lost my scholarship by joining<br />
the Jackson strike. I wrote to <strong>Madhusudan</strong> <strong>Das</strong> for some help for my<br />
Oriya friend. Immediately I had a reply and a promise of Rs. 10/<br />
a month which was more than what my friend actually needed. I<br />
met him several times both in my house at Arrah and Buxar as well<br />
as in his house at Patna while he was a Minister in Bihar and Orissa<br />
and after he resigned the Ministership and started practising as a<br />
Lawyer. As Minister he accepted my invitation to tea even though<br />
I was the junior-most of officers. Later he appeared in my Court and
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