Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday attended the birth centenary celebrations of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati at Gurujang near Talcher in Anugola district and announced that the village would be developed as a “Heritage Village” while Gurujang Panchayat would be made a “Model Panchayat.”
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister described Swami Laxmanananda as not merely an individual but a great ideal, a divine institution, and a luminous guide of Sanatan Dharma. He recalled how the Swami renounced modern comforts to live in the remote forests of Kandhamal, dedicating his life to the service of tribal communities. Through the establishment of Chakapada and Jaleshpata ashrams and a girls’ gurukul, the Swami provided Sanskrit education and values-based training that made tribal girls self-reliant. The Chief Minister said the seeds of cultural awareness sown by the Swami have grown into a mighty tree and that the movement against religious conversion he initiated continues as a resolved Sanatani resolve across the state. He called the Swami the “Guru, Grantha and Garima” of society.
The state government has taken several decisions to honour his legacy. Phulbani Government Medical College has been renamed Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Medical College. An amount of Rs 13 crore has been sanctioned from the Chief Minister’s Special Assistance (CMSA) fund for the development and heritage conservation of Jaleshpata Ashram, its school and kanyashram. Of this, Rs 5 crore will be used for a 300-bed girls’ hostel, Rs 3 crore for heritage site conservation, and the remaining amount for a mega river-lift project to improve drinking water supply.
Referring to the brutal killing of the Swami on Janmashtami night in 2008, the Chief Minister strongly criticised the then government’s alleged failures, neglect and appeasement politics. He alleged that the disappearance of reports and files of the Justice Mahapatra Commission and Justice Naidu Commission from the Lok Seva Bhawan pointed to a deliberate conspiracy to shield the perpetrators. He gave a firm assurance to the people of Odisha that every drop of the Swami’s blood would receive justice and that the truth would be revealed.
The Chief Minister noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always shown deep respect for the Swami’s service and Sanatani commitment. He said the Prime Minister’s principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” embodies the Antyodaya philosophy of Swami Laxmanananda. He called upon today’s youth (Gen Z) to stay connected with their roots—education, culture, the Vedas, Sanskrit, cow protection and Sanatani traditions—and to contribute to nation-building with patriotism and courage.
Speaker Surama Padhy recalled the spiritual and social contributions of the Swami and urged society to follow the path he showed. Former Union Education Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan thanked the Chief Minister for the heritage village and model panchayat announcements, describing them as a fitting tribute that would further enhance the spiritual and cultural pride of the region. He highlighted the Swami’s role as a pioneer of education, social reform and awakening among tribals in the difficult terrain of Kandhamal.
The event was attended by Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik, MP Rudra Narayan Pani, Kandhamala MP Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi, MLAs Bibhuti Bhusan Pradhan (Parjang), Ashok Mohanty (Pallahara) and Simarani Nayak (Hindol), along with Swami Jiban Muktananda, Swami Sachidananda Maharaj, numerous saints, dignitaries and thousands of devotees from across the state.
