Several Odisha leaders, including Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, paid rich tributes to freedom fighter and former state’s Chief Minister Harekrishna Mahatab on Friday, marking his 126th birth anniversary.
CM Majhi, along with Speaker Surama Padhy and Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, offered floral tributes at Mahatab’s statue on the assembly premises.
“Tributes on the birth anniversary of Utkal Kesari Dr Harekrushna Mahatab,” Kambhampati wrote in a social media post.
Mahatab, popularly known as ‘Utkala Kesari’, was widely remembered for his substantial contributions to India’s freedom struggle and his role in shaping the modern state of Odisha.
Taking to his X handle, CM Majhi wrote, “Devoted homage on the birth anniversary of the distinguished freedom fighter and former Chief Minister of Odisha, ‘Utkala Kesari’ Dr Harekrushna Mahatab. His contributions to the progress of Odisha will always be remembered. He was a visionary leader for literature, culture, and social change along with a political perspective. May his ideals and sacrifices always inspire us.”
ଆଜି ରବୀନ୍ଦ୍ର ମଣ୍ଡପ, ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱରରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ମହାନ ବରପୁତ୍ର ଉତ୍କଳ କେଶରୀ ଡକ୍ଟର ହରେକୃଷ୍ଣ ମହତାବଙ୍କ ୧୨୬ ତମ ରାଜ୍ୟ ସ୍ତରୀୟ ଜୟନ୍ତୀ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମରେ ଯୋଗଦେଲି । ଆଧୁନିକ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ନିର୍ମାତା ଭାବରେ ଡକ୍ଟର ମହତାବ ଥିଲେ ଏକାଧାରରେ ଜଣେ ମହାନ ସ୍ୱାଧୀନତା ସଂଗ୍ରାମୀ, ରାଜନୀତିଜ୍ଞ, ଗଡଜାତ ମିଶ୍ରଣର ପ୍ରମୁଖ ପୁରୋଧା, ସାହିତ୍ୟିକ,… pic.twitter.com/s1YwRcuFt8
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) November 21, 2025
Leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on his X handle wrote, “On the birth anniversary of Utkal Kesari Dr Harekrushna Mahatab, the freedom fighter and architect of modern Odisha, I offer my tributes. His contributions in making the state progressive, bringing improvements to people’s lives, as well as elevating the standards of literature and journalism, will always remain memorable.”
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also paid tributes to Mahatab, stating his contributions to public service will remain ever memorable.
