Madhusudan_Das

216 Madhusudan Das:
public activities during the late 1920s. But the Administrative
Committee under Sir John Hubback formed in 1933 to give shape to
the proposed province of Orissa included Madhusudan.as one of the
members, Inspite of his critical health condition Madhusudan as the
Grand Old Man of Orissa gave his wise counsel and blessings to the
Committee. The separate province created for the Oriya-speaking people
on 1 April 1936 was the result of Madhusudan's life long struggle and
sacrifice.
Madhusudan was the accredited leader of the Oriyas for almost
half a century. Gopabandhu Das, Brajasundar Das, Sasibhusan Rath,
Laxmidhar Mohanty and others were his disciples. A long felt void in
leadership in the history of Orissa was creditably filled up by him. He
was an unfailing source of inspiration for many socio-cultural functions
and an enterprising patron. His spacious bungalow on the Cuttack
Chandi road was the veritable centre of political life. He was indeed
the Father of Oriya nationalism and maker of the new province.