Madhusudan_Das

His Life and Achievements 159
the composition of the nation. The advice of any man is irrelevant.
A few women have joined man in political agitation of the day.
They serve man in their political ambition. Whether woman serves
man in domestic life or political life, it is in a subordinate position.
Both ignore the Divine object in creating woman. You should
enquire who has made European nations, what they are father or
mother and then decide what is your duty and what should be
your line of action. 24
On education in general. Madhusudan wrote in 1918 —
Modern education has produced undesirable results. The
• Government feels that the present tendency for unlawful activity
is the result of modem education. As a consequence, the students
are placed under various restrictions. The students are not allowed
to attend public meetings or to read newspapers. They hope that
these measures will produce loyal subjects. The modern
educational system does not realise that the child has a soul and
the teachers do not feel that it is their duty to help the students to
realise the ideal or goal of their life. Many people consider the
present educational system as God-less. I say that it is soulless. 25
Thus like all patriots and savants of the pre-Gandhian era,
Madhusudan Das had an idealistic approach towards diverse problems of
national life. Had he continued his political career in the broader context
of Calcutta or Patna, he could have established himself as a frontrank
leader of the nation but his ardent Oriya patriotism as an inseparable
segment of Indian nationalism tied him to the limited atmosphere of
Orissa and he strained every nerve of his to bring about multi-faceted
development of his people. The Oriyas still cherish his memory as the
Father of Modern Utkal and he lives in the hearts of his people as the
Grand Old Man or the Glory of Utkal.
References Cited:
1. Nabakishore Das — Utkal Gaurab Madhusudan (in Oriya), p. 50
(Utkal University, 1951).
2. Surendra Mohanty — Madhusudan Das (in Oriya), p. 80 (National
Book Trust, New Delhi. 1974).
3. Ibidp.61.
4. Ibid: Quoted from History of Freedom Movement of Orissa Vol. II,
p.121.