Madhusudan_Das

I lis Life and Achievements 141
was convicted in Cuttack Court on charge of Murder. Mr. Das appealed
for him in Calcutta High Court and got him acquitted.
COMMON FACTOR
The few instances from the lives of the two great leaders and the
architects of Orissa province have clearly established one common factor
that both of them were men of character, conviction, courage and
determinations who fought for the right causes. But there was one verysubtle
difference in their individual attitudes and associations. Madhu
Babu, who earned like a Prince and lived like a Prince, always had an air
of superiority of calibre and never allowed any Indian feudal aristocrat or
any British aristocrat to overshadow his great personality either in style
or in manners. He lived and moved with them with equal dignity and
pride, like Jawaharlal Nehru who while maintaining his Indian cultural
heritage of greatness and magnanimity also ranked equally high among
the European aristocrat and intellectuals. This was Nehru's character. Even
during most delicate and crucial talks with the Viceroys of India Nehru
always talked to them maintaining his dignity, honour and the great
charm of his personality.
On 27th August. 1946 the Viceroy Lord Wavell invited Gandhiji
and Nehru for talks regarding the formation of interim Government.
During the talks Wavell generally showed his bias for the Muslim League
and tried to browbit the Congress leaders. At one stage he exploded with
an unusual burst of temper and said "Don't you see. if it will be a Congress
Government, it is bound to be lacking in impartiality." Pandit Nehru
immediately reacted to this remark of the Viceroy Lord Wavell and said:
"You misunderstand the composition of the Congress Party. Your
Excellency, not. I may say for the first time. The Congress is not pro-
Hindu or anti-Muslim. It is for all the people of India." At another stage.
Nehru told Wavell— "We cannot help if we are lawyers". Lastly he told
him in other words, you are willing to surrender to the Muslim League's
blackmail'. Ultimately. Lord Wavell had to leave India with his repentant
remarks before his private secretary and chief adviser. Mr. George Abell
on 19th February. 1947 on breakfast table saying:' They have sacked me,
George': after a pause he added, ' They are quite right, I suppose.' On the
20th February. 1947. Labour Party Prime Minister. Mr. Attle announced
in the House of Commons that power would be transferred to India by a
date not later than June, 1948. He also announced the resignation of
Lord Wavell and appointment of Lord Mountbatten as the next Viceroy