Madhusudan_Das

198 Madhusudan Das:
think, he had no choice than to accept the 'ideology of liberalism' (as a
theory before theory ) of the British Empire -- where the 'imperial sun'
never set. In other words, the prevalent English style was penetrating the
elitist mind and outlook. But Madhusudan was an exception. He
welcomed the western tradition, but was passionate about the past glory
and some of the rites of Oriya people. His comments on 'suttee' may be
quoted as an example :
... if you wish to see such a picture to back to the days that will
never return, the golden days of our forefathers, when chaste
women died the death of Suttee...Picture to your imagination a
'Suttee' and tell me whether you do not believe that there is a
thing in man which cannot be measured in any way." (Ibid : p.
209)
That may be one of the reasons, for which he learnt to respect 'Swadeshi'
— the fine cratmanship in literature and art ware.
To Madhusudan. each country and its people always have
something unique to offer. So he suggested : 'learn anything that is good
in others, never their faults." He wanted to establish a 'forum' through
which he could transform his ideas. The seven poems he composed were
basically for rejuvenating 'Utkal Sammilani' as such a forum. Though a
'devout christian' by faith, he was seeking an 'Oriya identity' in the crucible
of pan-Indian culture. Even while visiting other countries (see his letters
from London and Egypt) his emotive faculty is expressed in a lucid style
— through his letters — a 'cry' from afar as if a 'son of the soil' is lost in the
panoramic beauty and grandeur. At the same time he was confident that
'the glory and dignity of Oriya nationality will grow and develop during
British rule.'
So he advised the
Oriya people' not to be critical of administration and religious discourse
but to boycott it.'
To comprehend Madhusudan's contribution to the 'nationalistic''
(Swaraj) dream of the period (1903-1934). the main theme was to consider
language (Oriya) as a legitimate socio-political activity and the 'primal
power' for divine, heroic and human development in Orissa..'Language
was the practical consciousness' which guided Madhusudan's literary
and emotive personality.
His childhood experience in Cuttack Government High School
and sojourn in Calcutta confirms that he was accommodative to the 'new