UTKALMANI PANDIT GOPABANDHU DAS Popularly known as Utkalmani (the jewel of Orissa) Pandit Gopabandhu Das was one of the first messengers of the gospel of freedom in the country. He was born on the 9th October 1877 in puri District of Orissa and took the law as his profession. However, as early as 1912 he gave up his lucrative practice at the bar and dedicated himself to the freedom movement. His organising ability attracted the notice of Mahatma Gandhi when he visited Orissa in1920.

He joined the non-cooperation movement in 1921 and suffered several terms of imprisonment. He was also associated with the Lok Sevak Mandal and came into close contact with Lala Lajpat Rai and Pandit Amrit Lal Thakkar. Besides being in the forefront of the struggle for freedom, Shri Gopabadhu Das was also a great educationalist. The Satyabadi High School in Puri District is a living monument to hi devotion and services to the cause of education. He was also a poet and author. His most important work was " Bandira Atmakatha" (the story of a prisoner). he also laboured in the cause of social reform and was an advocate of liberalism when conservation had a strong hold in the society. Shri Gopabandhu Das was also a legislature having been a member of the Bihar and Orissa legislative Assembly from 1917 to 1920.

The P. & T. Department is proud to issue a special postage stamp in honour of this great son of India.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India