Bhubaneswar: Rich tributes were paid to Utkal Gauraba Madhusudan Das, one of the greatest pioneers of modern Odisha, on his birth anniversary across the state today.

Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik paid tribute to the legendary leader.

ଆଧୁନିକ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ନିର୍ମାତା ଉତ୍କଳ ଗୌରବ ମଧୁସୂଦନ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଜୟନ୍ତୀରେ ମୋର ବିନମ୍ର ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି। ସ୍ବତନ୍ତ୍ର ଓଡ଼ିଶା ପ୍ରଦେଶ ଗଠନ କରିବାରେ ସେ ଥିଲେ ପ୍ରମୁଖ ବିନ୍ଧାଣୀ। ଓଡ଼ିଆଙ୍କ ସ୍ଵାଭିମାନ ସୁରକ୍ଷା, ଶିଳ୍ପ, ଶିକ୍ଷା ଓ ସାହିତ୍ୟରେ ଉତ୍କର୍ଷ ପ୍ରତିପାଦନ ସହ ରାଜ୍ୟର ପ୍ରଗତି ପାଇଁ ତାଙ୍କ ତ୍ୟାଗ ଓ ନିଷ୍ଠା ସର୍ବଦା ଅନୁକରଣୀୟ। pic.twitter.com/ubyfiR3HYA

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) April 28, 2018

Similarly, Rajya Sabha MP Soumya Ranjan Patnaik paid floral tributes at the Madhusudan Das memorial at Gorakabar in Cuttack. The occasion was observed as Swabhiman Divas by 'Ama Odisha' and 'Sambad'.

Madhusudan Das was born to Raghunath Das and Parvati Devi at Satyabhamapur near Salepur in Cuttack district on April 28, 1848.

He was the first Odia to get a degree of M.A. B.L. from Calcutta University. He was also the founder of Utkal Sammilani, an architect of Odia movement and a pioneer in the field of industrial development.

Also read: 10 things every Odia should know about Utkal Gauraba Madhusudan Das.

Acclaimed as a great legislator and journalist, he was the first Odia to be the member of Legislative Council and Member of Central Legislative Assembly, besides being the first Odia to sail overseas.