Madhusudan_Das

His Life and Achievements 9
that history of nations teaches us, namely, that persistent efforts in
the furtherance of a righteous cause, if pursued with ardour, sincerity
and selflessness, are bound to lead to success. He believed that
for a nation to prosper, more depends on inspiration and endeavours
from within than assistance from outside.
Mr. Das was a politician and patriot of what may be described
as the old school - a splendid galaxy of men who were determined
to raise India from the stupor under which she lay for centuries,
pursuing methods which they thought were sound and rational.
His principle may not have all found favour with latter-day public
men, but his sincerity was transparent, energy indomitable and
determination firm. Those who differed from his views had no
less regard for him than for others who shared their own views.
He was always prepared to look at matters from the viewpoints of
others with whom he differed and, with a courage born of
consciousness of the fact that human judgment is often liable to
err, would change his own angle of vision and alter his decision
should he come to find that he had been wrong. His advice was
regarded as ripe, sound and reliable and used to be sought for even
by those who belonged to his province but by men of other provinces
as well. He was a good speaker and a powerful writer.
When the constitution of 1919 came into being Mr. Madhusudan
Das, as the recognised leader of the Oriya community, was
appointed to the responsible post of Minister to the Government of
Bihar and Orissa with the portfolio of Local Self-Government and
Public Works. The position was one to which his claims were
unrivalled, and which would not have suited anybody else so well.
His experience in the arena of politics, his achievements in the then
Bengal council, his work in the Senate of the Calcutta University
and the services that he had rendered to the country in the cause
of a long and eventful life stood him now in good stead in his new
field of activities. Though well advanced in years he threw
himself into the task with an unparalleled enthusiasm - a zeal and
vigour of which many a young man may be proud- and did his work
with care, circumspection and thoroughness.
Lives of great men teach us how to live and to work. Mr.
Das's life is certainly a lesson which may be read with pleasure
and with profit.
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