100 Years of First Visit of Mahatma Gandhi to Odisha

Mahatma Gandhi Odisha Stamp

The Department of Posts is proud to issue a special Mahatma Gandhi Odisha stamp to mark the centenary of Gandhiji’s first visit to Odisha on 23rd March 1921. This historic visit infused new energy into Odisha’s freedom movement and awakened people to the ideals of non-violence, self-reliance, and service to the poor.

Odisha Before Gandhiji’s Visit

When Gandhiji first came to Odisha (then called Utkal), the region was divided into four different entities a part in Bihar, another in Madras Province, the third in Central Province, and the rest as Princely States. Odisha had not yet become a unified state.

Inspired by Gandhiji’s success in Champaran, Bihar, where he freed indigo farmers from exploitation, Odisha’s poor farmers began to see him as a savior. On the invitation of Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das, Gandhiji agreed to spend a week in Odisha, a land ravaged by repeated floods, droughts, hunger, and poverty.

Gandhiji Arrives in Cuttack – 23rd March 1921

Gandhiji arrived in Cuttack on Dola Purnima day, 23rd March 1921. The entire town of about 20,000 people gathered at the railway station to see the Mahatma. Dressed simply in a kurta, dhoti, and cap, he arrived with Kasturba Gandhi, his son Devdas, and Babu Rajendra Prasad.

A grand procession led him to Swaraj Ashram, around 15 km away. That afternoon, Gandhiji addressed a huge public gathering—the only surviving photograph of which was published in Samaj, the Odia daily edited by Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das.

Inspiring Odisha Through His Message

During his week-long stay, Gandhiji spread his message across Odisha:

• At Cuttack, he spoke on non-cooperation, the boycott of foreign goods, women’s education, and the importance of teaching in local languages.
• He addressed Muslims at Qadam-E-Rasool and met women’s groups at Binod Behri.
• He traveled to Bhadrak, where a massive gathering was organized by the young student leader Harekrushna Mahtab.
• With leaders like Gopabandhu Das, Mahtab, and Gopabandhu Chaoudhuri, he visited Puri and Berhampur, energizing the people everywhere he went.

Impact of Gandhiji’s Visit

His presence energized the Non-Cooperation Movement in Odisha:

• Youth actively joined the freedom struggle.
• Women took up spinning on the Charkha and promoted the use of Khadi.
• Foreign cloth was boycotted, and the people embraced self-reliance.

Gandhiji’s visit awakened Odisha from slumber and gave people a sense of purpose, inspiring them to serve the poor and fight for justice with the weapon of non-violence (Ahimsa).

A Turning Point in Odisha’s History

The day 23rd March 1921 became a turning point in Odisha’s history. A hundred years later, the Mahatma’s message of peace, service, and non-violent resistance still resonates. His visit symbolized hope and showed ordinary people a way to fight oppression fearlessly.

The Mahatma Gandhi Odisha Stamp

To honor this historic centenary, the Department of Posts has issued a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Mahatma Gandhi’s first visit to Odisha. This stamp is not only a tribute to Gandhiji’s unforgettable journey but also a reminder of the timeless values of courage, self-reliance, and compassion that he inspired in the people of Odisha.