As Odisha‘s first Chief Minister, he pushed 26 princely states to merge into one province, against fierce royal resistance. He also found time to write a Sahitya Akademi-winning book.
Timeline
- 21 November 1899: Born at Agarpada village, in Bhadrak district, Odisha.
- 1921: Leaves Ravenshaw College to join the freedom movement.
- 1922: Jailed on sedition charges.
- 1924–1928: Chairs the Balasore District Congress Committee, and sits on the Bihar and Odisha Council.
- 1930: Joins the Salt Satyagraha, and is jailed again.
- 1934: Opens his ancestral family temple to all, a first for the state.
- 1942-1945: Imprisoned for three years, for his role in the Quit India Movement.
- 23 April 1946: Becomes the first Chief Minister of Odisha, and pushes for the merger of the state’s princely states.
- 1950-1952: Serves as Union Minister for Commerce and Industries.
- 1955-1956: Serves as Governor of Bombay.
- 1956-1960: Returns as Chief Minister of Odisha, for a second term.
- 2 January 1987: Dies, at age 87.
From Freedom Fighter to First Chief MinisterNeed to Know
- Harekrushna Mahtab, known as “Utkal Keshari,” was born on 21 November 1899, at Agarpada, Odisha.
- He left Ravenshaw College in 1921 to join the freedom movement, after watching an Indian National Congress session the year before.
- He coordinated the boycott of foreign-made goods during the Non-Cooperation Movement, and was jailed for sedition in 1922.
- He joined the Salt Satyagraha in 1930, inspired by Gandhi’s Dandi March, and was jailed again.
- He was imprisoned for three years during the Quit India Movement, from 1942 to 1945.
- He became the first Chief Minister of Odisha, on 23 April 1946.
- He served two separate terms as Chief Minister: 1946-1950, and again 1956-1960.
- He also served as a Union Minister and as Governor of Bombay, between his two terms.
Merging 26 States, Writing Books on the SideGood to Know
- He pushed for the merger of 26 Oriya-speaking princely states into Orissa province, against strong royal resistance.
- As Chief Minister, he issued circulars to Odisha’s princely rulers seeking their cooperation for merger. Many rulers resisted, forming their own Eastern States Union in opposition.
- He worked closely with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to eventually integrate the princely states, including Nilgiri, the first to see open revolt against its ruler.
- In 1934, he opened his own family temple to all, regardless of caste, ahead of similar reforms elsewhere.
- He was a prolific writer, winning the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1983, for “Gaon Majlis.”
- Beyond politics, he wrote extensively in both Odia and English, including the historical work “History of Orissa.”
Test Yourself
A Career Between Two WorldsGreat to Know
- His push for merger began almost immediately after taking office. He treated state integration as urgent, not a project for later in his term.
- Royal resistance to merger shows integration wasn’t simply agreed to everywhere. Odisha’s process, like several other regions, required real political pressure, not just persuasion.
- His parallel career as a Sahitya Akademi-winning author is unusual among Chief Ministers. Few political leaders sustain serious literary output alongside governing a state.
- His two separate terms were split by service in Delhi and Bombay. His career kept moving between state and national politics, rather than settling into either permanently.
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