Madhusudan_Das

I
MADHUSUDAN AND THE ERA OF
RENASCENCE IN ORISSA
R.P.SHASTRY
For many more generations to come Utkal Gourab Madhusudan
will continue to occupy a place of profound veneration in the hearts of
millions of people of Orissa and inspire them to patriotic works and social
activities. For about half a century he continued to guide and influence
the social and political life of the State. He sacrificed all his wealth for die
cause of Orissa and her people. Bom on 28th April, 1848 in a middle class
Zamindar family in Satyabhamapur Village of Cuttack District (Orissa) in
an early period of British rule over this part of India, Madhusudan played
a very notable historic role for the renascence of the dismembered Orissa
Province and her crippled literature, culture, arts and cra'fts.
The history of Orissa from the last quarter of the 19 th century to
the first three decades of the 20th Century cannot be completed without
adequate treatment of Madhusudan's political, social, cultural and literary
activities with a special emphasis on his efforts for Swadeshi movement
and development of industries in Orissa by utilising the locally available
raw materials. With his all embracing great personality, Madhusudan was
also a dignified teacher, educationist, journalist and a text-book writer.
He was a Prince among the princes, a philosopher and preceptor among
the religious teachers, a pioneer among the Oriya lawyers and one of the
most respected parliamentarian and Minister, He was also a member of
the Central Assembly in 1913 to 1916 as the representative of the Bihar
and Orissa Legislative Council.
THE CONCEPT OF SWADESHI
Mahatma Gandhi was greatly impressed with his ideas of
"Swadeshi" which he had demonstrated in the practical field in leather
tanning, in filigree works, and also in the ageold weaving and spinning
village industry of Orissa. His Utkal Tannery was a great revolutionary
social organisation where, in the leather industry the superior caste
Brahmins, Karanas and the untouchable cobblers had the opportunity to
mix and work together (about half century back when the shade of a man
of the so-called untouchable castes was considered as impure and sinful).