Biography of Gopu Das:

Gopabandhu Das (1877–1928), popularly known as Utkalamani Gopabandhu Das (Jewel of Utkal or Odisha), was a social worker, reformer, political activist, journalist, poet, and essayist. He was born on 9 October 1877 in Suando village, near Puri, Odisha, India, in a Brahmin family. He devoted his entire life to the cause of Orissa, in particular, and India, in general. He was a symbol of Oriya identity and is remembered as a great leader who worked tirelessly for the betterment of society. He was a key figure in the Indian independence movement and was a member of the Indian National Congress. He was also a prolific writer and wrote several books, including “Bandira Atmakatha” and “Satyagraha O Durniti”. He passed away on 17 June 1928.
Political career - Jail - Literary works of Gopu Das
Biography of Gopu Das

Political career of Gopu Das:

Political contact with Gopalbandhu’s Utkal convention began in 1903, but he persuaded others to merge the ODI movement with the National Congress to form part of the Indian National Movement. Thus he became the founding president of Congress in Odisha. He was imprisoned several times to participate in the freedom movement. He left the Congress, disappointed with the quarrels between the leaders in search of power and returned to serve the people directly. Then till his death, he became the National Vice President of the Public Service Department.
Gopindhu was a member of Old Bihar and Odisha Legislative Council for four years from 1917 to 1920. They emphasized four major problems, namely the integration of all the Oriya speaking areas, the permanent solution for the prevention of floods, the restoration of Odaidia’s right to build the free from the famine excise duty in Odisha and the spread of education on Satyabadi model Gopabandhu Regular Form And Utkal attended the annual meeting of the conference. He was elected as his president in 1919. They gave a broad definition of ‘Odiya’ – Odisha is a well-wisher of Odisha. In the Chakradharpur session, his proposal to accept the objectives and objects of the Indian National Congress as part of Utkal Conference was approved.

Jail to Gopu Das:

Gophandhu Das was the forerunner of national consciousness in Orissa. In the freedom struggle, he traveled many times in jail. In the Nagpur Congress of 1920, the Congress accepted the policy of making a provincial province on his proposal. Orissa had become the best pastor of nationalism, and in 1921 he led the ‘Non-Cooperation Movement’ in Orissa. He was imprisoned for two years. Gopchandhu Das was also a member of ‘Sultan of the Peoples Society’ founded by Lala Lajpat Rai.

Literary works of Gopu Das:

From childhood, the poignancy of poetry was seen in a clear sense. While reading at school, they used to write beautiful poems. The style of writing poetry in simple and sympathetic language started with them. In Oriya, he became the creator of a new era, the name of the same age is “Truthful” era. Simplicity and nationality are the characteristics of this era. Each book is one of the brightest gems of “Holiday Concern”, “Border Autobiography” and “Dharmapada”. In the language and style written in “Baniar Autobiography”, the Orientalists become animated by the sense of nationalism after reading it. Oriya people feel special pride by reading the description written on the construction of “Konark” temple in “Dharmapad” book. Although these are all small books, their influence is more than many big works.