Madhusudan_Das

22 Madhusudan Das :
a nation was very little known outside, it was he who first strained
himself successfully to make it known. He felt the necessity of a
powerful organisation which through his endeavour came into existence
in the shape of "The Utkal Sammilani" to represent the common cause
of the Oriya-speaking population. When the claims of the Oriyas were
being ignored by outsiders, it was he who first fought for their rights
and privileges. He may be described as the father of "NEW ORISSA"
Province inasmuch as the movements resulting in the creation of the
province had their source from him. His love for Oriyas and the Mother
Utkal was pure, simple and genuine and his views in politics were
well known to those who have derived their inspiration in politics
from him. No one who has ever heard his public lectures can deny
him the credit of a forceful speaker. Learning and clear logic combined
with undaunted powers of eloquence made him a very distinguished
speaker. He could lecture on a large variety of topics, and on every
such occasion his extraordinary power of elocution and humour would
be manifest and make the audience spellbound. One can picture the
lean and thin but stubborn man thundering in the midst of a huge
and distinguished gathering, his ideas cloaked in impassioned
utterances, his voice raised to its highest pitch at important moments.
When he was speaking there was one and only one mind running
through the audience, and that was of Mr. Das was thinking and hold
the same opinions as he was holding. It was next to impossible not
to agree with him, so persuasively and masterfully did he speak.
Mr. Das was a reputed and popular lawyer. His claims as being
the most' prominent member of the legal profession in Orissa were
never called into question. Sincere and hard-working and well-versed
in legal principles, he further combined in him an exemplary and
inimitable ability in the art of cross-examination and an extraordinary
capacity for presenting the facts of a case and urging the law-points
involved in it before a Court of justice in a lucid, systematic, effective
and convincing way. The litigant had absolute confidence in this great
lawyer and was very eager to be efficiently represented by him.
The first Oriya to receive higher education on Western lines,
the first BA. and the first M.A. of Orissa, he was also the first Oriya
to hold the distinguished position of a Minister. As a Minister of the
Government of Bihar and Orissa he showed a marked capacity for
action.