Statues of eminent personalities to be installed in Odisha

The contributions of these eminent personalities are timeless and serve as a lasting source of inspiration for the youth, said Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj

Bhubaneswar: Statues of eminent personalities will be installed in various locations across the state. The decision for the construction and installation of these statues has been formally taken by the Department of Odia Language, Literature, and Culture, Government of Odisha.

A meeting chaired by Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj was held to discuss the proposals received from various public representatives, distinguished individuals and district administrations. After detailed deliberations, a list was prepared for the construction and installation of the statues of these personalities in different parts of the state.

As part of the plan, statues of Bhajan Samrat Bhikari Bal in Kendrapara, Dharmasingh Mandhata Majhi in Balangir, Kuntala Kumari Sabat and poet Shekhar Chintamani Mohanty in Bhubaneswar, Kabisamrat Upendra Bhanja in Berhampur, Gokulananda Mahanty in Bhadrak, Ratana Nayak in Keonjhar, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Veer Surendra Sai in Sambalpur, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Madhusudan Das and Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Cuttack, Gangadhar Meher in Bargarh, Fakir Mohan Senapati and BaghaJatin in Balasore, Buddhist scholar Diganaga in Puri’s Delang, Tamma Dora in Malkangiri and Bajirao in Bhuban have been finalized for installation. Additionally, the statues of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati and the first Odia Shankaracharya Shridhara Swami will also be installed.

Minister Suraj stated that these great personalities have played a pivotal role in shaping our independence and identity. Through their writings, they have enriched the Odia language and literature, while also upholding the values of Odisha’s culture and heritage.

Their contributions, whether in the fight for independence or the preservation of language and culture, are invaluable and a source of perpetual respect. These personalities are an enduring inspiration for the youth.

The state government has thus prioritized the construction and installation of these statues in various places across Odisha, ensuring their legacy remains alive for future generations, added the Minister.