By Our Correspondent
BHADRAK:The last independent king of Odisha, Mukundadev, is a symbol of freedom, independence, unity, pride and culture. In the coming days, research will be done on Gohiratikiri with the help of UNESCO and efforts will be made to expand the history page related to King Mukundadev with the help of the Government of India, said Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan while joining the ‘Ekta Padayatra and General Assembly’ organized at Dobal, Dhamnagar, Bhadrak district on Saturday and laying the foundation stone of various projects.
He said that Gohiratikiri is a symbol of the last freedom struggle of Odisha and a heroic land stained with the blood of the last independent Hindu king. Raja Mukunda Dev was not just a ruler; he was a symbol of Odisha’s freedom, independence, pride and culture. Raja Mukunda Dev extended his kingdom from Ganga to Godavari and fought tirelessly to protect Odia identity and sovereignty. He fought against the black hills and fought till his last breath to protect Odia independence and civilization, despite being a victim of conspiracies.
He emphasized that history is the mirror of the future; it is not easy to chart the path for the future without studying history. In 2036, the centenary of the formation of a separate province on the basis of the Odisha language will be celebrated and in 2047, the country will complete a centenary of independence. Therefore, our responsibility is to work for the prosperity of Odisha, keep the environment of the village clean, prioritize nutrition and take care of all children starting from newborn babies. Instill affection for the Odisha language and promote it. He called upon the society to take responsibility for making Odisha number one, not just relying on the government system. Apart from this, he called upon the people to take collective responsibility towards making Gohiratikiri a historical site by 2036, on the occasion of the centenary of the formation of the linguistic state of Odisha.
On this occasion, Shri Pradhan laid the foundation stone of 22 projects worth Rs. 101 crore for the development of the locality. Dhamnagar Mahavidyalaya Development Project worth Rs. 15 crore from the Prime Minister’s Higher Education Mission Fund, the Tourism Department’s Rs. 2.46 crore for the improvement of the surroundings of the Nathia Pokhari near Gohiratikiri, the Odia Language Literature and Culture Department’s Rs. 10 crore for the improvement of Lunia Shaheed Smaaraki Peeth, and the Gohiratikiri Research Centre and Art Gallery project at Gohiratikiri at a cost of Rs. 5 crore. Similarly, the Union Minister laid the foundation stone of 10 projects worth Rs. 25.85 crore from the Water Resources Department, 3 projects worth Rs. 18 crore from the Public Works and Housing Department, 3 projects worth Rs. 21.25 crore from the Rural Development Department and 2 projects worth Rs. 4.11 crore from the Drainage Department.
Today, Shri Pradhan paid homage to the Arjuna tree, a silent witness to the ancient history of the area, and the magnificent statue of Mahavira Hanuman installed at the base of the tree. He visited Alamchand Pokhari and Rani Pokhari. After paying homage to the statue of Birbar Mukundadev, the last independent king of Odisha, he visited the nearby monastery and the Sri Jagannath Temple in the area. Odisha Higher Education Minister Suryavansi Suraj, Bhadrak MP Abhimanyu Sethi, Bhadrak MLA Sitanshu Shekhar Mohapatra were prominently present on the occasion.
