By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:Dr. Debendra Pradhan was the great grandfather of Odisha BJP. He was not just a politician, but also a straightforward, simple and unpretentious personality. He did what he said and did, and did not make false promises. He was a rare person who took all the workers with him, said Union Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh.
On Tuesday, on the occasion of the first death anniversary of former Union Minister Late Dr. Debendra Pradhan, an emotional memorial meeting was held at the OUAT campus in Bhubaneswar. Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Odisha BJP State President Shri Manmohan Samal, Dr. Debendra Pradhan Smriti Samiti President Shri Sameer Mohanty were present at the grand event. At the beginning of the festival, the Odia and Hindi versions of the memorial book “Daktar Babu” based on the biography and ideals of the late Pradhan were released by the guests. Along with this, a short film prepared on his life journey was screened and remembered.
Union Defence Minister Shri Singh paid tribute to Dr. Babu and described him as a ‘rare personality’, saying that he was known for his politics of non-aggression, but rather for people’s welfare. This leader, who lived a simple and unpretentious life, practiced what he preached. Dr. Pradhan was a man who maintained perfect balance between words and deeds. His contribution to the education, health, industry, energy and employment sectors of Odisha is unparalleled. His role in the ‘Brick Collection Campaign’ for the construction of Ram Temple 30 years ago and his oath-taking in the Parliament in Odia language show his regional love.
Chief Minister Shri Majhi described Late Devendra Pradhan as a symbol of service, sacrifice and dedication. He stated that the expansion of highways in the state from 1600 km to 3200 km and the establishment of Krishi Vigyan Kendras were his unique achievements. He said that humility and friendliness were the biggest attractions of Dr. Pradhan’s personality. He was completely dedicated to the policies and ideals of the Bharatiya Janata Party and this was always reflected in his behavior and speech. Not only a politician, but also a good human being, he became a favorite of all. His dedication, hard work and commitment were the main factors in strengthening the organization of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Odisha. Similarly, BJP State President Shri Manmohan Samal said that Dr. Pradhan was a center of inspiration for all the workers. His art of accompanying workers in difficult situations along with boundless patience and self-confidence made him special.
Apart from this, Dr. Debendra Pradhan Smriti Samiti President Shri Sameer Mohanty spoke about the struggles of late Pradhan’s personal life, biography and his human qualities. He said that Dr. Pradhan was a skilled organizational architect. He was a follower of BJP’s Panchnishtha, a carrier of inner inspiration. Dr. Debendra Pradhan’s life and ideals will remain an unforgettable memory in the life of Odisha and especially in the political field, said Kalandi Samal, author of Dr. Babu Pustak.
The Odia edition of Doctor Babu has been published by Prachi Sahitya Patuvayan, Cuttack, founded by Gangadhar Tripathi, a prominent publisher of Odisha. His son and publisher Bibhu Prasad Tripathi, translator of the Hindi book ‘Doctor Babu’ Dr. Samanvay Nanda, publisher Parvathi Kumar of Parvathi Publishing, New Delhi, were present at the event.
