Madhusudan_Das

His Life and Achievements 163
the people of Orissa, but also in the memory of the Indian Nation as a
whole. In his mission and lesson of life we find that many intricate social
and political problems of India to-day stand analysed and solved. His
words still guide us as a beacon light in thorny path of national fulfilment. -
He held that political careerism does not fit in with the idea of social and
political service in India. "Unless you burn yourself like the wick of a
lamp, you cannot impart light to others" — he said. His life-mission was
to initiate and infuse a "National Life" into the people of Orissa (Utkaliya).
Nobody could dare to interpret this national life (Jatiya Jeeban) as
provincialism (or Stateism of today). At least Sri Aurobindo or Sri Motilal
Ghose have not done it. To him "National" life is opposed to "individual
careerism". We say my profession, my property, my convenience and my
prosperity. Madhusudan said that if all of us are individually rich,
prosperous, happy, and are highly educated, this does not mean that our
nation is rich, happy, prosperous or educated. On the contrary,
individually we may be poor, but our Nation may be enriched by our
contribution. He exhorted all to undertake industrial undertakings even
with risk to lose in the business, as in our failures we leave a national
experience which will enrich our posterity. His interpretation of
Nationalism (in 1894-1903) —considered too original when he spoke.
Strangely his ideas forsetalled the cult of Swadeshi before the Swadeshi
Movement was envisaged in Bengal, and it forestalled the cult of
Sarbodaya of Mahatma Gandhiji and Binobhaji before their advent on
the political horizon. Lastly his definition of provincial Nationalism in
1904 forestalled the legal and constitutional elements of the State and
the Union under the Constitution of India. 1950, as interpreted by the
Supreme Court of India. Last but not the least his insistence on the moral
and spiritual values for any socio-political life in India, appears to be
prophetic in view of the collapsing moral fabrics of the political life in
India today.
MADHUSUDAN'S THEORY OF PROVINCIAL NATIONALISM
The Press Trust of India reports on February 24, 1968 that the
Union Home Minister Y. B. Chavan deplored in his Aurangabad speech
the increasing fissiparous tendencies among the people in the country.
Mr. Chavan said."... it is a matter of regret that we have not been able to
unite as a strong nation, capable of facing internal problem and saving it
from external dangers since the achievement of independence." He
continued, "Assamese were thinking in term of Assamese only and wanted