The house, which used to be Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu's Baripada residence about a century ago, is now in a shambles.
However, this neglected, damaged structure has, of late, drawn the attention of the conscious citizenry, who have urged the concerned higher authorities to protect and preserve this as a national heritage site. More than 110 years ago, Pandit Gopabandhu Das, one of the outstanding social workers and philanthropists of those days, was invited to Baripada by the then benevolent Mayurbhanj Maharaja Shriram Chandra Bhanjdeo. And, at the request of Sriram Chandra, he served the then princely State of Mayurbhanj as the Government Pleader.Gopabandhu, in his capacity, then initiated a series of welfare measures and promulgated quite a few people-friendly laws.
He also raised a voluntary students' force in order to provide quick relief to victims of fire tragedies during the hot summer.
Besides these, on assuming the charge of the Vice-chairman of the then Baripada Municipality, he took effective steps to make Baripada clean, green and beautiful. As a result, this otherwise unnoticed town of Baripada, even during those days, was considered a model, modern township.
In spite of all this, the more-than 100-year-old structure, situated in the heart of Baripada, that once housed none other than that great Gopapabandhu, is now dilapidated and ruined.
Therefore, many here now, including lawyers, scribes, social activists, have strongly urged the Government to take effective steps to protect, preserve and promote the place of historical importance and develop it as a national heritage site.