By Our Correspondent
SAMBALPUR: Rich tributes were paid to former Minister, Parliamentarian, Trade Union Leader and Educationist Sriballav Panigrahi on his 84th Birth Anniversary Commemoration organized at his hometown in Sambalpur, yesterday the 29th of September.
Revenue & Disaster Management Minister, Govt. of Odisha Shri Suresh Pujari was the chief guest at the commemoration. Sriballav’s old associate and friend, former Minister and Pradesh Congress Committee President Shri Niranjan Patnaik was the guest of honor. Talcher MLA Shri Braja Kishore Pradhan and former Minister Prakash Chandra Debta were Guest Speakers
The event held at the Dr. Radhanath Rath Community Centre in Sambalpur was very well attended and auditorium was filled upto its capacity. Prominent citizens from all walks of life joined together to remember the contributions of Sriballav.
Shri Suresh Pujari in his address as the Chief Guest said after assuming the role of Odisha’s Revenue Minister, the topmost name name that came to his mind was Sriballav Panigrahi’s.
Shri Pujari said that in his life he has had the opportunity to connect with various politicians of differnet idealogies and across the policitical spectrum. He said he constantly evaluated various leaders and if honesty, integrity, clarity of thought, knowledge, morality and uncompromising nature on one’s own principles were taken into account, Sriballav Babu’s was right on top of his list. He would keep Sriballav Panigrahi ahead of all other leaders because of these qualities.
He said, one of Sriballav Babu’s greatest qualities was his ownership of issues and his advice to opposition leaders across the political spectrum in the name of public good. He lamented that today, even people who are in the same side of the spectrum, are antagonistic to one another.
He recalled that after leaders like Sriballav Panigrahi, Dr. Krupa Sindhu Bhoi, Banmali Babu and Sradhakar Supakar, unfortunatley Sambalpur has not proudced leaders of their calible. He also said Intelorance has increased in the society.
He said Sriballav babu moved away from being a congress leader to being a leader of the common Man.
He assured all help to the Sriballav & Sunanda Panigrahi Foundation in their propogation of ideas close to Sriballav Babu like honesty, integrity and probity in public life.
Guest of honour Shri Niranjan Patnaik, recalled his association with Sirballv for over 60 years. He regaled the crowd with many interesting anecdotes about his relationship with Sriballav. He talked about the years 1967-69 when Sriballav whas the District Congress Committee President (DCC) of Sambalpur (the youngest DCC president in India, then). He said he used to send some money every month to Sriballav and every month he used to get a printed reciept from the DCC, Sambalpur for the same amount. This incident illustrates the high amount of honesty and integrity exhibited by Sriballav since his early days.
He said Sriballav, even when he was not in power, had an unique abilty to find ways and means to get public works done. Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) and the Railway Division in Sambalpur happened only because of his dogged efforts. After Naba Krusha Chowdhary, major land reforms were excuted under his watch. Extolling him as a man of character, he said Sriballav was an ideal politician and today’s generation should be inspried by him.
Guest Speaker and 4 time Talcher MLA Shri Braja Kishore Pradhan said that Sriballav Babu was his political godfather. He said he came into politics only because Sriballav babu was confident about his abilities and he recounted how he was nominated as Zilla Parishad candidate despite opposition from others. This was the start of his political journey.
Shri Pradhan said Sriballav Babu had the courage and tenacity to face the truth and he remained an untainted personality till the end.
Many interesting facts about Srballav Babu were releaved by Shri Pradhan. He said Sriballav Babu initiated the opening of Sundargarh Medical College. He took everybody together and convinced the Central Government / NTPC that Sundargarh is a tribal disttict and needs the hospital as soon as possible.
NALCO’s privatisation bid was also stopped by him, in the interst of Odisha, by putting pressure on the central govt. He fought not only for the regular employees of MCL but ensured that contract labour rights were safeguarded.
Former Minister Praksh Chandra Debta said that Sriballav Babu was responsible for his getting nominated as Congress Candidate in 1974. Not tolerating any kind of injustice, Sriballav Babu was a commited and strong personality.
Among other who spoke were Shri Soubhagya Pradhan, General Sectretary of Orissa Collieries Mazdoor Sangh, Shri Akshay Biswal, former General Secretary, Heavy Water Workers Union, Talcher and Retired Judge Shri Manoranjan Mohanty.
The function was presided over by Chairperson of Sriballav & Sunanda Panigrahi Foundation, Dr. Raseswari Panigrahi. Dr. Panigrahi talked about Sriballav babu’s idealogy. Narrating her own experience when Sriballav didn’t vote for her (despite she being her sister) but went to Bargaon to cast his vote in his native village for the Congres canditate.
Senior Jounalist Subhas Pangrahi welcomed all the guests and introduced them to the audience. He connected each guest to Sriballav and talked about their special relationship with the departed leader. Many interesting anecdotes were also releaved by him.
Managing Trustee of the foundation and Sriballav’s elder son Priyadarshee Panigrahi talked about the activities of the foundation. He announced that an Annual Sriballav Panigahi Memorial Lecture will happen soon. He also announced that an award called Sriballav Panigrahi Samman will be given away to people whose tireless dedication enriches our society through culture, education, language, and social service. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. One Lakh.
Rajarshi Panigrahi, Trustee of the foundation and Sriballav’s younger son gave away the vote of thanks. Appreciating the presence of the guests he said he was overwhelmed by the love and affection that people had for his father.
School children from Veer Surendra Sai Panchayat High School Bargon, from Sriballav’s birthpace, specially came in to participate in the pgrogram. They sang the welcome song. A memento was presented to the headmaster of the School Shri Arbind Panigrahi.
In addition to this 2nd batch students of the foundation’s Sunanda Panigrahi Memorial Spoken english Classes, behing held afree of charge at he the Govt. Women’s College Sambalpur were given away their course completion certificates and books by the guests.
The function was organized by the Sriballav & Sunanda Panigrahi foundation. The foundation which was estabished in 2021aims to promote values and ideals that were close to the hearts Sriballav and Sunanda Panigrahi, such as probity in public life, good governance and the empowerment of marginalised communities, particularly though education.
Born into a freedom fighter’s family on 2 Sep 1940 at Bargaon, near Sambalpur, Sriballav Panigrahi was a distinguished political leader. He became India’s youngest caibinet minister at the age of 32 in the year 1973 handling several important portfolios like Revenue, Education, Irrigation & Power etc. He was also a 3 term member of the Lok Sabha from Deogarh consitutency. Wearing many hats, he was also a trade union leader and an educationist. Known for his honesty and integrity and steadfast loyalty to his principles, Sriballav was responsible for many development projects in Odisha. His clean image, strong personality and oratory skills continue to serve as an inspiration to people.
