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Odisha is the emerging & most popular state in India, famous for its beaches, local cuisines, ancient temples & famous local festivals. There are so many Eminent Personalities of Odisha who made the people of the state proud. Furthermore, the state is popular for Jagannath Dham in Puri, also known as one of the Char Dham pilgrimages.
In this blog, we are going to share some well-known People of Ancient Odisha or personalities famous for their dedication & hard work. The following people we are going to mention are renowned as social reformers, great leaders, and personalities who contributed to the state immensely.
Listing well-known 20 Eminent Personalities of Odisha
Biju Pattanaik:
Biju Pattanaik, also known as Bijayananda Patnaik, is Odisha’s most renowned and viral personality. He was born on March 5, 1916 in Cuttack, Odisha. We can’t ignore his contribution to aviation & Odisha’s development and role in India’s freedom struggle. In his early life, he had a deep interest in aviation, which led him to drop out of Ravenshaw College. He served as Odisha’s Chief Minister twice. Moreover, he has put efforts to lead the state towards development & modernization. His efforts to improve education and infrastructure to uplift the people of Odisha are still remembered.
Jayee Rajguru:
The life of Jayee Rajguru is a shining example of rare courage, selfless courage & determination. He was one of the first personalities to resist British rule in Khurda in Odisha. He was born on 29 October 1739 in the prominent family & village of BiraHarekrushnapur, near Odisha. Additionally, he will always remain an inspiration for the people of India as a valiant freedom fighter & great national hero.
Chandra Sekhar Behera:
He is one of the most famous personalities or people of Ancient Odisha, and he inspired a lot of people. He was an active member & freedom fighter who led the non-cooperation movement. Later, he was part of the Indian National Congress to consolidate the national freedom movement.
Moreover, he was the founder of the national school of Sambalpur. As the chairman of Sambalpur municipality, he received Gandhiji in 1928 at Sambalpur. Furthermore, he was popular as the leader of a mass movement against untouchability & illiteracy.
Raja Artatran Deo:
He was enthroned as Raja of Khariar (currently known as Nuapada district) in 1921. Moreover, he was popular for his contribution towards culture, art, education & sportsmanship. He was a member of multiple organisations & committees. Moreover, he sponsored scholarships for deserving students for their higher education. Moreover, he was an influential man & under his leadership, the state of Odisha & the “Khariar Zamindari” merged together.
Buxi Jagabandhu:
Buxi Jagabandhu stands as a rebellious hero of the 1817 Paika revolt in Khordha. His full given name is Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Mahapatra Bhramarbar Ray. He was born in the Rorunga district of Puri in 1773. His predecessors were the Khordha army’s commander-in-chief.
They were commonly known as Buxi. As a result, Jagabandhu came to be referred to as Buxi Jagabandhu. His family bought Killa Rorunga, which they kept until the British takeover of Orissa in 1803. Jagabandhu becomes one of the victims of the fraudulent land sale of the Zamindari estate.
Pandit Gopabandhu Das:
Pandit Gopa Bandhu Das is a historic name in Odisha’s history. He is also known as Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das. Utkalmani means Jewel of Utkal. His remarkable achievements and sacrifices are what made Odisha today. Pandit Gopabandhu Das was a reformer, social activist, poet, political activist, and journal activist. He also took part in Odisha’s non-cooperation movement. Subhash Chandra Bose refers to him as the “father of the national movement in Odisha.” He established Puri Seba Samiti, a nonprofit group that assisted cholera sufferers.
Veer Surendra Sai:
Surendra Sai is one of Odisha’s eminent personalities. He was born at his ancestral home of Sambalpur Region in 1809. He was the biological descendent of Madhukar Sai, the 16th-century Maharaja of Sambalpur from the Chauhan dynasty. His father was the sixth generation to ascend to become King of Sambalpur. Even though Sai fought valiantly against the British, his legacy is scarcely forgotten by most Indians. He had begun his battle against foreign control before the 1857 Revolt & continued it long after the Rebellion had ended.
Kalindi Charan Panigrahi:
Kalindi Charan Panigrahi was an acclaimed Odia poet, novelist, storyteller, playwright, and essayist. He was born on the 2nd of July 1901. He was a member of the Odia writing group Sabuja Goshthi (Green Group). Kalindi Charana Panigrahi is the elder sibling of Bhagabati Charana Panigrahi. He was the founder of the Marxist trend in Odisha and formed a group called “Sabuja Samiti” in 1920. Kalindi Charan Panigrahi was influenced by Rabindranath Tagore’s romantic thoughts.
Acharya Harihara:
Harihar Das was a prominent player during the independence struggle from Odisha. He was born in Puri district in 1869 and acquired his early schooling there before enrolling at Ravenshaw College. He became a teacher and helped to create multiple schools while preaching nationalism and social change. Harihar Das actively engaged in the 1930 Salt Satyagraha, during which he was detained on multiple occasions by the British. He dedicated his life to Gandhi’s ideas of nonviolence and the empowerment of the underprivileged.
Chakhi Khuntia (Chandan Hajuri):
When the first battle of Indian Independence erupted across the country in 1857, He became one of the brave leaders who had committed his life to the common good. Chakhi Khuntia was born on the occasion of the auspicious Samba Dashami within Puri in 1827. His father was an avid Bhagwan Jagannath follower. Chakhi Khuntia learned Oriya literature and language at Chatasali. He later studied Hindi to communicate with Bhagwan Jagannath’s pilgrims.
Sri. Nilamani Routray:
Nilamani Routray was born at Mukundpur, Balasore. He graduated in Law & Arts. Furthermore, he was the secretary of Oriya Samaj of Calcutta. He also served the state as the chief minister from 1977 to 1980. Additionally, he was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1989 & served as the health & family welfare minister & then the Forest & environment minister in the Union Government. He was the president of the Odisha state unit from 1967 to 1970.
Nilakantha Das:
Pandit Nilkantha Das was born on August 5, 1884, in the respectable Brahmin family of Sriramchandrapur Sasan near Sakhigoapl in Puri. He secured an M.A. degree in philosophy from Calcutta University. He became a legendary personality in his lifetime. Furthermore, she was a powerful speaker & his speeches in the Central Legislative Assembly & Odisha Legislative Assembly have left an indelible impression. He will always be remembered as a revolutionary freedom fighter and speaker who led the movement for untouchability & Odia culture.
Fakir Mohan Senapati:
He was the master in the art of writing short stories & injected a new life into Odia literature. His sense of humour remains unsurpassed in Odia literature. Rather than romantic themes, he wrote about the common man & their problems. He could be compared with the 20th-century great novelists such as Bibhutibhusan Banarjee and Premchand. Even though he had no formal education, he proved to be an enlightened teacher, great administrator, and painter. Furthermore, in his writings, he focused more on Odia Nationalism.
Amar Saheed Baji Rout:
Saheed Baji Rout was born on October 5, 1926 at Dhenkanal, Village Nilakanthapur. He was born in the Khandayat family. Furthermore, he had lost his father at an early age. His mother had to work in various houses to feed him. He was the youngest patriot at 12 years of age, and Baji Rout was fondly popular as Bajia. He sacrificed his life for the motherland & People of Ancient Odisha.
Nandini Satapathy:
She is the first lady chief minister of Odisha & Eminent personality of Odisha. She was born in Cuttack & completed his degree from Ravenshaw College. She wrote multiple poems & short stories. Moreover, she was the editor of Odia Monthly magazine “Kalana”; furthermore, she also received “Sahitya Bharati Sammana” for translating the famous novel “Lajja”.
Later, she was elected to Rajya Sabha from the Congress party twice. She was the founder cum secretary of the Odisha Women’s Relief Committee. Furthermore, she was the chairman of the Children’s Film Society of India twice. She was also elected as the Odisha leader of the Congress Legislature Party twice.
Biswanath Das:
He is always remembered as an outstanding administrator, a brilliant politician, an inspirational leader, a distinguished freedom fighter, and a capable statesman. After giving up his successful legal practice in 1920 to become the head of the Ganjam District Board, he joined the Non-cooperation movement in 1921 in response to Mahatma Gandhi’s request.
He was fighting for the establishment of an independent Odisha Province; he was a great patriot. He had the honour of being chosen to serve as Odisha’s prime minister. At the request of the Indian National Congress, he resigned as prime minister on November 4, 1939.
Gajapati Maharaja Krushna Chandra Dev:
Maharaja Krishna Chandra Dev was an architect of modern Odisha. He attended the first Round Table conference in London on 16th November 1930, during which he appealed to create a separate province of Odisha. Moreover, he was Odia’s brilliant spokesman, who was felicitated by Madhusudan Das. He played a crucial role in bringing together the vivisected parts of Odisha. Moreover, he was a member of the Old Madras Legislative Council.
Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das:
He is also referred as Kulabruddha & Utkal Gaurav. Moreover, he was a famous personality in Odisha’s history. He was born on 28 April 1848 in Satyabhamapur, near Cuttack. He was the first graduate and Advocate of Odisha. Moreover, he had completed his degree from Calcutta University. He emerged as the symbol of new hope & aspiration for the Odia people.
Furthermore, he was the founder of Utkal Sammilani and the architect of Odias. He was known as an impressive journalist and the first Odia member of the Legislative Council. He was the most talented person since he was a poet, lawyer, social reformer, entrepreneur and journalist. As a lawyer, he fought for the Idisha’s rights and uplifted the field of politics and education.
Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo:
The legendary prince of Mayurbhanj State was a great supporter and advocate of the Odia literature world and one of the driving forces behind the 19th-century Odia language movement. He was born in a Mayurbhanj royal family on December 17, 1871, and his father’s name was Krushna Chandra Bhanj. At Baripada, he finished his basic schooling. Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo’s unwavering support and contribution have permanently left a strong impression on the history of Odisha.
Dr. Harekrushna Mahatab:
Harekrushna Mahatab, also popular as “Utkal Keshari,” was born in Agarpara village in the Bhadrak district of Odisha on November 21, 1899. He was raised in a Khandayat family of aristocrats. After graduating from Bhadrak High School, he went to Ravenshaw College in Cuttack.
He led the Indian National Congress, played a significant role in the fight for Indian independence, and served as Odisha’s chief minister twice. Mahatab was a brilliant author who produced a variety of works while imprisoned. During his last years in jail, he wrote the drama Swarajya Sadhana and the book Nutan Dharma.
Along with them, there are many more Eminent Personalities of Odisha who are popular all over India for their great contributions. They made Odisha proud and brought significant changes in the religious & cultural society of Odisha.
