Bhubaneswar: President Droupadi Murmu released a special commemorative postage stamp in the honor of ‘Utkal Keshari’ Dr Harekrushna Mahatab on the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary on Thursday at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
President Murmu was the chief guest on the occasion, while Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi were present at the event. Cuttack MP and Dr Harekrushna Mahatab’s son Bhartruhari Mahatab attended the programme.
Dr Harekrushna Mahatab, popularly known as “Utkal Keshari”, was born on November 21, 1899 in Agarpada, Odisha. He was a noted freedom fighter, politician, historian, writer, social reformer and journalist. Dr Mahatab was deeply influenced by personalities like Swami Vivekananda, Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Mahatma Gandhi.
He joined the freedom movement in his college days and actively participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement, Salt Satyagraha etc. Dr Mahatab was arrested several times for his activities in the freedom movement and played a major role in the integration of Odisha into India.
Dr Harekrushna Mahatab wrote extensively in both Odia and English. He was praised for his other works, including a historical account of the state, ‘History of Odisha’, and received the Sahitya Akademi Award for ‘Gaon Majlis’ in 1983.
The Government of India has constituted a high-level committee to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of the Odisha’s first Chief Minister and freedom fighter Dr Mahatab. The committee is headed by Home and Cooperative Affairs Minister Amit Shah.
