Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi once wrote about Madhusudan Das: "I had the privilege of meeting the late Madhusudan Das. He was a great patriot. He held most liberal views about religion. Though he professed Christianity, he had the same regards for Hinduism that he entertained for his own faith. He wore himself out in teaching the youth of his country 'Dignity of Labour' and gave political proof of his teaching by establishing a tannery in Cuttack”.
Gandhiji knew Das as a successful legal practitioner and industrialist. Das had experience in the cottage industries and swadeshi enterprises. He had struggled hard for women's empowerment and the emancipation of depressed classes. Gandhi knew Das as a leader and Odisha people's uncrowned king.
In the view of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, “Madhusudan Das was a great man not only of Odisha but of the whole India. I have been hearing his name for the last fifty years. He was a very great friend of my father, but I had no opportunity to meet him directly. During this period, whenever the affairs of Odisha came up for discussion and consideration, the name of Madhusudan Das absorbed all this and came into prominence. This college, SB Women's College, Cuttack, is proof of his far sight and vision. This institution could not have raised its head if he had not moved for the progress of female education. A country's civilization's progress is to be measured by female education.”
Not only Mahatma Gandhi or Pandit Nehru appreciated his work and leadership, many other leaders like Rajendra Prasad, first President of India, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, founder of Jan Sangh, Achary PC Ray and Sir Manmathnath Mukharji and many more, had an excellent opinion of Das. Rajendra Prasad, while offering his tribute to Madhubabu, wrote that he met MS Das for the first time on the way to Motihari for a conference to be presided over by Das. His discussions with Das left an indelible imprint on him. He further described Madhubabu as an outstanding personality manifested by self righteousness and self-confidence, who had immense love for the country, a good temperament, and dedication. His contribution to the management of Local Self Bodies was praiseworthy. He further wrote that knowing that he was in the sick bed, Das visited him and touched his body with soothing hands. This exemplified Madhubabu's empathy for humankind.
Madhubabu was the home tutor of Sir Asutosh Mukherjee, the former Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University and father of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, founder of Jan Sangh, now famously known as BJP. Shyama Prasad too was Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University. He wrote, 'Mr. M. S. Das was my father's tutor, and the relationship between the teacher and the taught was remarkable. My father touched Mr. Das's feet and paid the utmost respect to him. Father always began a letter addressing Mr. Das as "My dear Sir" but not as Mr. Das. Both shared common views on many aspects of life and would discuss various subjects animatedly. I saw all these happen when I met him as an eleven-year-old boy for the first time and beyond. My father and the great man Mr. M. S. Das influenced me equally in my formative years. Letters by Mr. Das addressed to my father was distinctive in nature and inspiring. During distress and remorse, my father used to receive consolation messages from Mr. Das, which helped to buck up his spirit. He knew the art of successfully finishing a task with a brave heart and steadfast love for the people and nation. Though frail, Mr. M. S. Das had a steel frame of mind and a possessive personality. It was rightfully said Mr. Das believed in God, was an honest statesman, and was a leader of men without a pinch of selfishness. He was a patriot to the core."
Madhubabu had many firsts to his credit. He was the first Odia graduate and MA and LLB degree holder, and the first advocate. He was the first Odia to visit England to attend the Round Table Conference, plead before the British Government for a separate province on a linguistic basis, and bring all Odia-speaking areas to the then Madras Presidency, Central Province, Bihar, and Bengal under one administrative setup. That was his commitment to the people of Odisha. He was also the first Legislative Council member of Bihar and Orissa Legislative Council and Central Legislative Assembly, a unique honor by any standard. He became the first Odia Minister of the then Bihar and Odisha. He held the Local Self Government, Departments of Medical Public Health, and Public Works portfolio in 1921 but resigned on moral grounds. Such were his moral standards in public life.
The Utkal Sammilani strongly demands the highest civilian award, "Bharat Ratna," posthumously for Madhubabu and the installation of a full-sized statue of him in the precincts of the Parliament. This will be the most humane tribute and a proud moment for all Odias and Indians!
(Dashsharma is president, Utkal Sammilani, Mancheswar Industrial Estate, Bhubaneswar, (M)- 8984007600)
