President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the first statue of Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das in New Delhi, honouring the legendary Odia leader and freedom fighter
OdishaPlus Bureau
President Droupadi Murmu on Monday unveiled the statue of Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das at the Lajpat Bhavan premises in New Delhi, marking the first installation of a statue of an eminent Odia personality in the national capital.
The President also paid floral tributes to the statue of Punjab Kesari Lala Lajpat Rai, founder of the Lok Sevak Mandal, during the ceremony.
The event was attended by Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, Lok Sevak Mandal President Rajkumar, Vice-President Deepak Malviya, Secretary Ramanath Jha, Treasurer and Publisher & Printer of The Samaja Rajendra Kumar Jena, and several other dignitaries.
Speaking on the occasion, Jual Oram described the unveiling as a historic moment that reflects Odisha’s rich heritage, commitment to national service, and dedication to public welfare.
Dharmendra Pradhan said that the ideals of Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das and Lala Lajpat Rai continue to inspire the nation through their commitment to selfless service, sacrifice, education, and patriotism. He added that their vision and values remain a guiding force in building a developed India.
Aparajita Sarangi described Gopabandhu Das as an iconic statesman and visionary whose enduring contributions to education, literature, journalism, public service, and India’s freedom movement continue to inspire generations.
The ceremony witnessed enthusiastic participation from the Odia diaspora, with a large number of Non-Resident Odias attending the event. Among those present were Members of Parliament Baijayant Panda, Saptagiri Ulaka, Rabindra Narayan Behera, Manas Ranjan Mangaraj, Dr. Sasmit Patra, Debashish Samantaray, Sujit Kumar, Sulata Deo, Shubhashish Khuntia, and Santrupt Misra.
Senior journalists, administrators, lawyers, artists, writers, social workers, and representatives of various organisations also attended the programme.
Members of Gopabandhu Das’ family, including Dhirendranath Das, Debendranath Das, Smita Das, and Aditya Das, were present on the occasion.
Lok Sevak Mandal President Rajkumar said the installation of Gopabandhu Das’ statue in the national capital would inspire people across the country and introduce a wider audience to his life and ideals. Describing Gopabandhu Das as a great humanitarian, a champion of the underprivileged, and a true patriot, he said the statue would serve as a lasting tribute to his enduring legacy and contributions to the nation.
The programme was coordinated by Shakti Prasad Nayak, Head of the Delhi Bureau, along with officials of the Lok Sevak Mandal.
It is worth noting that the bronze-and-copper statue, weighing approximately 52 kilograms, was sculpted by renowned artist Rabi Narayan Rath. The sculptor said the statue was created under the guidance of Lok Sevak Mandal President Rajkumar.