Naba Krushna Choudhury, the second Chief Minister of Odisha, was instrumental in initiating the modern Odisha by establishing Hirakud Dam, Rourkela Steel Plant, Agriculture and Veterinary College, etc, said Rayagada district Collector Jagannath Mohanty during the 115th birth anniversary function held by Seva Samaj.
Mohanty said though Choudhury came from a feudal family, but he was pioneer in abolishing the zamindari system and promulgating OlR Act. In spite of resistance from his colleagues in the Assembly, he was able enact the Odisha Official language Act-1954. He took drastic steps in merging the princely States. He neither liked to write his autobiography nor encouraged anybody to do the job. He always used to say that he did not want to rule people by power but by winning hearts, said Mohanty, adding, “We should be multilingual with mother tongue at the base. Intolerance is not the need of the hour.”
Veteran sarvodaya leader Dr Ratan Das, who presided over the function, described the simple life former Chief Minster Chaudhry.
Among others, Shanti Devi, an octogenarian Sarvodayee and a Jamnalal Bajaj Awardee, Utkal Sammilani and Vinoba Smruti Committee secretary Jayaram Jena, Janmejay Swain, Gopi Sahu, Braja Naik and Anubrat Bara spoke.
The activists of Bhasa Surakshya Sammilani took out a rally in the town demanding enactment of Odisha Official language Act-1954 and fulfilment of other issues pertaining protection of Odia language. A memorandum was given for the Chief Minister to the Collector.