Madhusudan_Das

16
Madhusudan Das:
meeting. Since then I heard several of his public speeches. His power
of speech, his command over the English language, his clearness of
expression, and above all, his wit and humour were most remarkable
and always charmed the audience. He was indeed one of the greatest
speakers of his time, and I consider that in his wit and humour he
excelled all. It was particularly by reason of his wit and humour that
his speeches were always very impressive and he could carry the
audience with him.
After I joined the Cuttack Bar in 1913 I came to be familiar
with Mr. Das who was then unquestionably the leader of the Bar. He
was in fact the strength and pride of our Bar. He was a lawyer of
high ideals and principles. He was always keen in maintaining the
honour and dignity of the Bar. While advising the junior members he
often instilled in their minds the necessity of keeping the dignity of
their profession. The legal profession is said to be an honourable
one, and undoubtedly it is so. This profession is the brain power of
public life and is the maker of the best and useful citizens. To be
worthy and honourable members of the profession it should be our
motto to be honest, sincere and industrious, and above all, independent.
Mr. Das had in him a combination of these qualities which raised him
to the position of eminence he occupied. His death has created a void
in the Cuttack Bar which cannot possibly be filled up.
Mr. Das was a great speaker and a great lawyer, but as a man he
was far greater. His mortal frame has perished, as it must, but the
name and fame he has left behind will never disappear. His greatest
virtues which will make his name immortal were his love for his
country and love for the poor. Every drop of blood that ran in his
veins was inspired with this sublime love. He sacrificed his life for
the cause of his country. His only aim was to uplift his country and
his nation. He was a patriot of a very high order of whom any
country in the world could well boast. He had always been working
hard to link together the Oriya nation under a separate administration.
By God's grace he lived to be blessed with fulfilment of his long
cherished desire, though unfortunately he was not spared till the actual
working of the new province of Orissa. The loss which his death
has caused to Orissa can never be retrieved
He was equally notable for his charity'. His heart was always
full of love and sympathy for the poor and distressed. His magnamity