President Droupadi Murmu today inaugurated the 125th Birth Anniversary celebration of Utkal Keshari Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab in New Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, President Murmu said that Harekrushna Mahtab was a visionary leader. The President said he knew that cultural awareness is as necessary as physical development.

President Murmu called him an eminent writer who contributed immensely to promoting art, literature, and music in Odisha. The President said that many important development works took place during the tenure of Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab as Chief Minister of Odisha. President Murmu said he played an important role in the construction of multi-purpose dam projects on the Mahanadi.

Due to Hirakud and other projects, Odisha became a leading state in the field of power generation. He also made a significant contribution to the establishment of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, State Secretariat, State Museum, various academies, and Nandankanan Zoo. The President said that Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab considered patriotism as the basis of the country’s development. President Murmu expressed confidence that his leadership skills and nationalist ideas will always remain a source of inspiration for us.