Mahatab the Sculptor of New Odisha

By Barada Das

Cuttack,May 27 :  Thinkers’ Club in it’s 5th year, 121st Web based meeting discussed on the contribution of Utkal Keshari Dr Harekrushna Mahatab in shaping the new Odisha and the Modern Odisha. Volumes can be said about his contribution to the History of Odisha but due to constraint of time, some very important aspects of his career were discussed in the meeting. 

The most important thing he did was shifting of the state capital from the old city of Cuttack to the New Capital, Bhubaneswar. He built the new Secretariat of the State. He established the Odisha Sahitya Academy,  Lalita kala Academy, Utkal Viswa Vidyalaya, BJB College, All India Radio Centre at Cuttack, Multi Purpose Dam at Hirakud and absorbed the princely states to the State of Odisha. He was the last Prime Minister of Odisha and the first Chief Mnister of Odisha.

Mr Mahatab spent much time in the prisons for fighting for independence. In spite of his available limited time, he constantly devoted some time for the Literature.  He wrote novels, essays on the contemporary issues. His writings were of a different class and not parallel to the creations of other literatis of the state.

Prof Dr Shiba Prasad Datta was the chief speaker.  Dr Chitaranjan Behera, spoke in length about the unique achievements of Dr Mahatab. He was the first person from Odisha to be appointed as the Governor of undivided Mumbai State. His name is listed as an important fighter in the Independence struggle of the country. The speakers highlighted on different aspects of his life, comprising the social, political and literary activities of Mahatab. He started Vishub Milan a fair of the Odiya writers at Cuttack and this is continuing till today.  This fair is an important milestone in the field of odiya literature. Many budding artists and writers came to lime light through this fair.

This meeting was moderated by Sri Barada Prasanna Das, the President of the Thinkers’ Club. Mr Das, spoke on the importance of the Bishuva Milan in the field of Odiya Literature.

Chhayakanta Sadanghy, Dr Anita Panda, Biswaranjan from Quate, Subash Sahoo from Baharin, Dr Nanda Nandan Das, Amita Kar, Aabha Das, Dasarathi Behera, Spandan Mohanty, Niranjan Panda, Prof Sudhan Patra, Manoranjan Das, Pushpanjali Parida, Bibhu Dutta Mohanty and many persons in the U Tube participated in the meeting.