Assess the role of madhusudan das in the national movement in odisha
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Madhusudan’s career in Odisha for about fifty years (1880s to 1934) was an example of unparalleled dedication to the making of Modern Odisha. He played a key role in the amalgamation of different Odia speaking tracts lying scattered in neighboring provinces into a great political entity. At the same time he made significant contribution to the socio-economic and cultural progress of Odisha which ultimately stabilized the political Odisha.
As per the advice of Sir Richard Garth, Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, Madhusudan Das returned to Cuttack on 25.09.1881. Through his effort, Odisha’s first Girls’ High School and first Library were established at Cuttack. Utkal Sabha (the Odisha Association) happens to be the first organization to promote national movement and it was established on 3rd August, 1888 at Cuttack. The Sabha conducted its first meeting on 21st August, 1889. Kashinath Das (Zamindar of Bhingarpur), Madhusudan Das and Gouri Shankar Ray were President, Vice-President and Secretary respectively. Madhusudan Das made efforts to expand the Canal System and agricultural activities in Odisha in 1884. Although he did not attend the first session of Indian National Congress in Mumbai, he presented a memorandum to Sir Richards Thomson (Lt. Governor of Bengal) on the development of agriculture and industry, expansion of Railways in Odisha and amalgamation of Ganjam and Sambalpur Districts with Odisha in the same year i.e.1885. Madhubabu also discussed reorganization of segmented Odisha and improvement of its administration and education system with Sir Richard Thomson.
Madhubabu attended the Indian National Congress Session held from time to time between 1886 to 1898 and drew their attention to Odisha in each session of Indian National Congress. But he disassociated himself from Indian National Congress when it rejected the proposal of Madhubabu for formation of the State on linguistic basis.
Madhubabu lodged a protest against British Government regarding the administration of Lord Jagannath Temple on behalf of Gajapati Raja of Puri in 1886. He also protested against the introduction of Bengali language in Odisha and took a leading role in establishment of a special institution i.e. Lady Thomson Women’s Dispensary in the campus of Ravenshaw College for treatment of Women in the same year i.e. 1986.
In December, 1903, Madhubabu formed the Utkal Union Conference a non-political organization. It was open to all Odias of feudatory States, British Odisha and those domiciled in Odisha. At the behest of Madhusudan, Lord Curzon took a decisive step towards uniting the scattered Odia tracts under Bengal administration. Madhubabu set up Utkal Tannery on an experimental basis in his residential house at Cuttack. Nearly 300 workers were employed. This pioneer Odisha industry lasted for 25 years. Nevertheless the industry had trade contracts with foreign countries like England, Europe and Japan. He could succeed in enlisting sympathies of John Moreley, Secretary of State for India.
Madhusudan accepted Ministership (1921-23) of Bihar-Odisha Government as per the Mont-Ford reforms under the system of Dyarchy at a very crucial period of Indian Nationalism.He was infact the first Indian who resigned from Ministership on ideological ground. The Legal Practioner Act of 1879 was amended in 1923 at the behest of Madhusudan Das. Mahatma Gandhi paid a visit to Utkal Tannery on 19th August at the request of Madhusudan Das.
He is unquestionably the greatest of personality Odisha has ever produced.