Madhusudan_Das

30 Madhusudan Das :
obviously have taken a good deal of his time and leisure. In particular,
he was then keenly interested in the Utkal Tannery which was started
through his efforts. Mr. Madhusudan Das took me personally to this
tannery in which he tried to combine efficiency with charity. The
workers were well treated and many of them were criminals with
previous convictions whom Mr. Das was trying to reform. The
subsequent failure of this tannery must have caused considerable
anguish to Mr. Das, though outwardly he took good care to conceal
his grief.
Mr. Madhusudan Das had at all times a friendly smile for the
younger generation and took every opportunity of placing before the
young men, with whom he came into contact, a high ideal of patriotism
and service. At the same time none of us felt that Mr. Das was trying
to be patronising because his preaching was silent and he had an
extraordinary sense of humour which made every one feel at home
in his company. Later on, I met Mr. Das, as Minister for Local Self-
Government, when he visited Darbhanga where I was then posted.
The elevation to this high position seemed to make no difference to
him; he had the same friendly and inspiring smile for me when I
was presented to him by my Collector. I knew also that his visit to
the district made a deep impression on the people. I met Mr. Das
once again some years after his resignation from the post of Minister.
He appeared to have aged considerably and he also referred to the
disappointments in his life, but there was still the humour which gave
the impression of cheerfulness in spite of misfortune. It is a thousand
pities that Mr. Das did not live to see a separate and united Orissa
-an Ideal for which he worked so hard throughout his life. He has
left a spiritual message of service and sacrifice not only for his own
province but for all those who came into contact with him.
• • •
(3)
THE GRAND OLD MAN OF ORISSA
B.C. MUKHERJI
I still remember vividly my first meeting with the late Mr.
Madhusudan Das. That was in 1927 when I was on settlement training