Bhubaneswar: Odisha marked Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti and Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti with a solemn tribute at the Odisha Legislative Assembly premises today, where Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister Shrimati Pravati Parida and Speaker Shrimati Surama Padhy led the state in remembering the founding fathers of the nation.
The prayer meet was attended by Revenue Minister Shri Suresh Pujari, Works and Law Minister Shri Prithiviraj Harichandan, Health Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Chief Whip Shri Saroj Shri Kumar Pradhan, along with several legislators and senior dignitaries.
ACS Home, Industries and I & PR Shri Hemant Sharma, Director I&PR Shri Sanjay Kumar Biswal graced the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Shri Majhi paid rich tributes to the immortal legacy of the two great leaders, describing their supreme sacrifice, uncompromising ethics, and unwavering service to the nation as an eternal source of inspiration for every Indian. He noted that Mahatma Gandhi did not merely gift India its hard-won freedom, but also offered the world a profound moral compass rooted in satyagraha and non-cooperation.
Recalling Gandhi’s vision of serving the marginalized, upholding absolute cleanliness, and championing swadeshi, the Chief Minister emphasized that these ideals are finding vibrant expression today under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He highlighted how the nationwide cleanliness movement, the self-reliance mantra of Atmanirbhar Bharat, and the Antyodaya Yojana are empowering the most vulnerable sections of society and ensuring that development reaches the remotest doorsteps.
Turning to the second Prime Minister, the Chief Minister praised Lal Bahadur Shastri as an enduring messenger of peace whose life of profound simplicity, lofty ideals, and absolute integrity remains a shining beacon for society. He recalled Shastri’s immortal clarion call of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, which continues to ignite patriotic fervor and resolve across the country.
Reiterating the collective resolve of the state, the Chief Minister affirmed that embracing Gandhi’s path of truth and non-violence alongside Shastri’s steadfast dedication to duty will guide Odisha and India forward toward a prosperous and developed future.
The state-level event, organized by the Information and Public Relations Department, featured an all-faith prayer assembly and the soulful rendition of Gandhi’s favorite devotional hymn, Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram.