Madhusudan_Das

His Life and Achievements 119
reputation as a lawyer and also as an accredited leader of Orissa. His
further fault was his straight forwardness and fight for the right cause. His
enemies tried to dwarf him in the eyes of the admirers in high British
circle, the Rajas of Orissa and the common people. However, despite the
clique of the local officers the British officers could see through the
game. In the year 1904 he was honoured by the British Government with
C.I.E. title
DETHRONEMENT OF KEONJHAR RAJA
Similarly, he had taught a good lesson to the Commissioner Toynbe
in 1891 after he had dethroned the Raja Dhanurjaya Bhanja Deo at the
instance of some designing officers who wanted to grab power and wealth
from that rich state. The said Commissioner deputed some European
officers who had dispossessed the Raja. At this point of time the great
Oriya novelist Fakir Mohan Senapati was the Dewan of the State. The
Raja came for help to Madhu Babu. Madhu Babu wanted to meet the
Commissioner with the Raja to explain his case. The Commissioner was
so much prejudiced against the Raja that he refused to grant him an
interview to hear him personally through his counsel. This arrogant
attitude of the Commissioner wounded the pride of the uncrowned prince
of Oriyas, the Great Madhusudan. who immediately sent a wire to the Lt.
Governor of Bengal to permit him to inspect the records in the
Commissioner's office in connection with the Keonjhar. The Governor
immediately granted permission to Mr. Das and instructed the
Commissioner accordingly. Then the Commissioner wanted to have a
compromise with Mr. Das on this issue. Mr. Das told him that he had no
personal quarrel with him but he wanted to represent the case of an
aggrieved Raja seeking justice for him. The Commissioner refused to
hear him again. Then he wanted to inspect the records of his case in order
to put it before Governor. Before Madhu Babu's meeting with the Governor
the Commissioner gave a distorted report to the Governor.
ARGUMENTS WITH GOVERNOR FOR RAJA OF KEONJHAR
Then he proceeded to Calcutta and met the Lt. Governor. The
Governor at first declined to hear the case and interfere in the matter
because of his preconceived wrong impression about the whole affair
derived from the Commissioner's report. Mr. Das told him that the Raja
came to him to represent his case. But the Governor has declared his
verdict before hearing him. This was contrary to natural justice and me