Autobiography of Nilakantha Das - XV

This is the 15th in the series of recapitulation in my own words portions of Pandit Nilakantha Das's Biography in Odia. Enjoy...

POLITICAL LIFE POST INDEPENDENCE

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In 1946, Nilakantha Das's ex colleauge at Satyavadi, Sri Lingaraj Mishra was elected to Odisha Assembly. But an insecure Mahatab was reluctant to make Mishre (Mishra jee in Odia) a minister. A peeved Mishre approached Pandit Nilakantha, after whose intervention Lingaraj Mishra was made the minister of "Health and Education".

At the same time, with a plan for building a modern hospital in Satyavadi, Pandit Nilakantha Das invited the Queen of RANAPUR (another vassal state) to a massive rally organised by him at Gopabandhu Das's cremation ground. Thousands swarmed the meeting. Impressed by Pandit Das's oratory skills and dedication for a good cause, the queen immediately granted 2.5 lakh Rupee, a pretty good amount at that time. Lingaraj Mishra repaid his bebt to Nilakantha by facilitating its grant as the minister.

In 1951, Pandit Nilakantha contested as an Independent candidate against his rival from the Congress. It was a risky step to contest against the official Congress candidate, a party at its height of popularity post independence for bringing freedom to people. Nevertheless, he took this risk. 

Being from the Congress party, a party in power at the center his rival had the advantage of MATARA GAADI (automobile), though motorable roads were a luxury those days. In contrast Pandit Das's best luxury was his bullock cart which took him to the nooks and corners of his constituency, the best mode of transportation in a labyrinth of fair weather roads connecting the villages

But the indebted Satyavadi folks had not forgetten their hero. They spent their own money and effort, volunteering to campaign and working hard for their candidate's victory. He won that election by comfortable margin.

Nilakantha Das again won the following election in 1957 - this time uncontested.

He then became speaker of Odisha Assembly in 1958, the same year Odisha Sahitya Academy was formed at Bhubaneswar with an annual budget of Rs.1 lakh. He was the President for the Academy for a year.

Soon he got a letter from Nehru who knew Nilakantha for a long time, requesting him to join the Congress party. Nabakrushna Choudhary, another prominent leader persuaded him to join Congress. 

(TO BE CONTINUED, AS I READ 📖 FURTHER)