BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday announced that Gurujang village near Talcher in Angul district, the birthplace of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, will be developed as a heritage village and model panchayat.
Addressing a gathering at a function marking the birth centenary of the former VHP leader, who was assassinated in his Jalespata ashram on the night of August 23, 2008, Majhi described Laxmanananda Saraswati as a spiritual and social leader who devoted his life to serving tribal communities in the remote areas of Kandhamal.
“He had established ashrams at Chakapad and Jalespata and worked to provide education and cultural values to tribal girls. Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati is the ‘Guru, Granth and Garima’ of our society,” Majhi said.
The chief minister said the state government has taken several measures to honour the legacy of the seer. The Phulbani government medical college has been renamed as Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Medical College and `13 crore sanctioned from Chief Minister’s Special Assistance Fund for development and heritage conservation of the Jalespata ashram, ashram school and Kanyashram, he said.
Of the sanctioned fund, `5 crore will be spent on the construction of a 300-seat girl’s hostel, `3 crore for heritage conservation and a mega river-lift project for drinking water supply, he added.
Referring to the Swami’s killing on Janmashtami night in 2008, Majhi accused the then BJD government of failure, negligence and appeasement politics. He alleged that the disappearance of files and reports of the Justice Mahapatra and Justice Naidu Commissions from Lok Seva Bhawan was part of a conspiracy to protect those responsible for his murder.
“Every drop of Swamiji’s blood will get justice and the truth will certainly be brought out,” Majhi said.
Drawing a parallel between the Swami’s philosophy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance vision, Majhi said Saraswati’s philosophy of Antyodaya was reflected in the PM’s ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ approach.
Former Union Education minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan welcomed the government’s decision to accord heritage status to Gurujang. “It is a fitting tribute to Swamiji’s contribution to tribal education, social awakening and cultural preservation,” he said.
He said, “Swamiji dedicated his life to the welfare of tribal and marginalised communities, inspired by Sant Bhima Bhoi’s thought - Mo Jeevana Pachhe Narke Padithau, Jagata Uddhara Heu.”
Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy and several ministers, MPs, MLAs, saints and hundreds of devotees attended the centenary celebrations.
