Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi visited Odisha seven times between 1921 and 1946.
Mahatma Gandhi had set foot in Odisha for the first time on 23 March 1921 which also was the day of Dola Purnima.
First visit — 1921
March 23: Accompanied by wife Kasturba, he reached Qadam-e-Rasool, Cuttack, and spoke on Hindu-Muslim unity. Later, he addressed a meeting of women at Binod Bihari in the city and a public meeting at Kathajodi riverbed. Women donated huge amounts of gold ornaments for the freedom struggle.
March 25: Addressed a public meeting at Gandhi Field (popularly known as Gandhi Padia) on the banks of river Salandi in Bhadrak. He then visited Puri via Sakhigopal
March 29: Accompanied by Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das, Gandhi reached Berhampur and addressed a huge gathering at Barracks Ground, which is now Berhampur Stadium.
Second visit — 1925
August 19: On the request of Madhusudan Das, Gandhi came to Cuttack and visited Utkal tannery.
Third visit — 1927
December 4: Objective was to propagate khadi. Also visited Balasore to meet flood victims at Basudevpur tehsil in Bhadrak district. The whirlwind tour adversely affected his health and he took rest at Madhusudan Das’ place. After he recovered, he left Cuttack on December 21 to attend the All India Congress Committee (AICC) session at Madras (now Chennai)
Fourth visit — 1928
December 22: Arrived at Jharsuguda to address a public meeting and then headed to Sambalpur
Fifth visit — 1934
May 5: Addressed mass gatherings at Jharsuguda and Sambalpur
May 6: Addressed a public meeting at Bhandaripokhari in Bhadrak district
May 8: Unveiled a statue of late Pandit Gopabandhu Das in Puri before undertaking a padayatra to spread the message that “human vanity lies at the root of untouchability”. The march began from Puri and touched Harekrushnapur, Chandanpur, Sakshigopal, Kadua Ashram, Danda Mukundapur, Pipili, Balakati, Satyabhamapur, Balianta, Telengapenth, Kajipatna on way to Cuttack. Gandhi left for Patna a week later to attend the AICC session. He also covered several parts of undivided Cuttack, Bhadrak and Balasore districts
Sixth visit — 1938
March 25: Attended fourth annual conference of Gandhi Seva Sangha and Utkal Khadi and Village Industry exhibition at Berboi near Delang in Puri district
Seventh visit — 1946
January 20: Passed through Odisha while going from Calcutta to Madras, made brief addresses at Cuttack and Berhampur
Source – Internet
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