The people of Gajapati district paid rich tributes to Parala Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati Dev on his 131st birth anniversary here on Monday.
Members of different organisations, political leaders, administrative officials and members of the Maharaja’s family offered garlands to his statue and also paid floral tributes at his Samadhi.
The architect of formation of the language based separate Odisha State and its first Prime Minister was recalled for his rich contributions in shaping Odia language, culture and integrity. Speakers highlighted how late Maharaja presented strong arguments for a separate Odisha State in Round Table meetings during the British Raj in London.
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In the morning, district Collector Lingaraj Panda, Maharani Kalyani Devi, Zilla Parishad president Gabra Tirupati Rao, ASP Bamadev Singh and Utkal Sammilani vice-president Purnachandra Mahapatra visited Maharaja’s Samdhi and offered floral tributes. In the evening, a meeting was organised jointly by the Utkal Hiteishini Samaj and district administration, where Rao and Mahapatra joined as guests.
A separate meeting was also organised at Gurandi Government High School presided over by Headmistress Rajeswari Devi. Joining as guests, scholars Bhagabat Padhi and Binod Chandra Jena spoke about Maharaja’s untiring efforts to unite all Odia speaking people and regions during the period up to the formation of separate Odisha State in 1936.