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{{Short description|Politician from Odisha, India}}
{{Short description|Indian politician (1899 – 1987)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| birth_name = Harekrushna Mahatab
| honorific_prefix = Utkal Keshari
| birth_name = Harekrushna Das
| name = Harekrushna Mahatab
| name = Harekrushna Mahatab
| native_name = ହରେକୃଷ୍ଣ ମହତାବ
| native_name =  
| native_name_lang = or
| native_name_lang = or
| image = Harekrushna Mahatab 2000 stamp of India.jpg
| image = Harekrushna Mahatab 2000 stamp of India.jpg
Line 11: Line 12:
| order = 1st
| order = 1st
| office = Chief Minister of Odisha
| office = Chief Minister of Odisha
| term_start1 = 23 April 1946
| term_start1 = 26 January 1950
| term_end1 = 12 May 1950
| term_end1 = 12 May 1950
| governor1 = [[Chandulal Madhavlal Trivedi]]<br>[[Kailash Nath Katju]]<br>[[Asaf Ali]]
| predecessor1 = ''Office Established''<br />(himself as [[Prime Minister of Orissa]])
| predecessor1 = ''Office Established''
| successor1 = [[Nabakrushna Choudhuri]]
| successor1 = Nabakrushna Choudhuri  
| term_start = 19 October 1956
| term_start = 19 October 1956
| term_end = 25 February 1961
| term_end = 25 February 1961
| governor = [[Bhim Sen Sachar]]<br>[[Y. N. Sukthankar]]
| predecessor = [[Nabakrushna Choudhuri]]
| predecessor = [[Nabakrushna Choudhuri]]
| successor = [[Bijayananda Pattanaik]]
| successor = [[Bijayananda Pattanaik]]
| office2 = [[List of Governors of Bombay|Governor of Bombay]]
| order2 = 3rd
| term_start2 = 2 March 1955
| office2 = Prime Minister of Orissa
| term_end2 = 14 October 1956
| term_start2 = 23 April 1946
| 1blankname2 = Chief Minister  
| term_end2 = 26 January 1950
| 1namedata2 = [[Morarji Desai]]
| predecessor2 = [[Krushna Chandra Gajapati]]
| predecessor2 = [[Girija Shankar Bajpai]]
| successor2 = ''Position Abolished''<br />(himself as [[Chief Minister of Orissa]])
| successor2 = [[Sri Prakasa]]
| office3 = [[List of Governors of Bombay|Governor of Bombay]]
| office3 = [[Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| term_start3 = 2 March 1955
| term3 = 1952–1955
| term_end3 = 14 October 1956
| predecessor3 =  
| 1blankname3 = Chief Minister
| successor3 = [[Nityanand Kanungo]]
| 1namedata3 = [[Morarji Desai]]
| constituency3 = [[Cuttack (Lok Sabha constituency)|Cuttack]], [[Odisha]]
| predecessor3 = [[Girija Shankar Bajpai]]
| term4 = 1962–1967
| successor3 = [[Sri Prakasa]]
| predecessor4 = [[Badakumar Pratap Gangadeb]]
| office4 = [[Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| successor4 = [[D. N. Deb]]
| term4 = 1952–1955
| constituency4 = [[Deogarh (Lok Sabha constituency)|Deogarh]], [[Odisha]]
| predecessor4 =  
| office5 = Minister of Industries and Supplies
| successor4 = [[Nityanand Kanungo]]
| term_start5 = 13 May 1950
| constituency4 = [[Cuttack (Lok Sabha constituency)|Cuttack]]
| term_end5 = 26 December 1950
| term5 = 1962–1967
| predecessor5 = [[Syama Prasad Mukherjee]]
| predecessor5 = Badakumar Pratap Gangadeb
| successor5 = Vacant
| successor5 = D. N. Deb
| constituency5 = [[Deogarh (Lok Sabha constituency)|Deogarh]]
| office6 = [[Minister of Commerce and Industry (India)|Minister of Commerce and Industry of India]]
| term_start6 = 13 May 1950
| term_end6 = 26 December 1950
| predecessor6 = [[Syama Prasad Mukherjee]]
| successor6 = [[Nityanand Kanungo]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1899|11|21}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1899|11|21}}
| birth_place = [[Bhadrak district|Agarpada]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]
| birth_place = [[Bhadrak district|Agarpada]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]] (now in [[Odisha]])
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1987|01|02|1899|11|21}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1987|01|02|1899|11|21}}
| party = [[Indian National Congress]] <br /> [[Orissa Jana Congress]]  
| party = [[Indian National Congress]]<br />[[Orissa Jana Congress]]<br />[[Janata Party]]
<br /> [[Janata Party]]
| spouse = Subhadra Devi
| spouse = Subhadra Mahatab
| children = [[Jashoda Kumari Jagaddeb]]
| children = [[Bhartruhari Mahtab]]
[[Bhartruhari Mahtab]]
| alma_mater = [[Ravenshaw College]]
| alma_mater = [[Ravenshaw College]]
| website =
| website =  
| module             =  
| source = https://loksabha.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/823.htm
{{Infobox writer
| module = {{Infobox writer
| embed            = yes
| embed            = yes
| pseudonym        =   
| pseudonym        =   
| language        = Odia, English
| language        = Odia, English
| period          = Colonial/Post Colonial India
| period          = Colonial/Post Colonial India
| genre            = History,Biographies,Academic Theses
| genre            = History, Biographies, Academic Theses
| subjects        = Indian Politics, History  
| subjects        = Indian Politics, History  
| movement        =  
| movement        =  
| notable_works    = {{transl|or|Gaon Majlis}}
| notable_works    = {{transliteration|or|Gaon Majlis}}
| awards          = Sahitya Akademi Award
| awards          = Sahitya Akademi Award
| signature        =  
| signature        =  
| signature_alt    =  
| signature_alt    =  
| years_active    = 1900-1987
| years_active    =  
}}
}}
}}
}}
 
'''Harekrushna Mahatab''' (born '''Harekrushna Das''', 21 November 1899 – 2 January 1987) was a leader of the [[Indian National Congress]], a notable figure in the [[Indian independence movement]] and the Chief Minister of [[Odisha]] from 1946 to 1950 and from 1956 to 1961. He was popularly known by the sobriquet "Utkal Keshari".
'''Harekrushna Mahatab''' (21 November 1899 – 2 January 1987) was the leader of the [[Indian National Congress]], a notable figure in the [[Indian independence movement]] and the Chief Minister of [[Odisha]] from 1946 to 1950 and again from 1956 to 1961. He was popularly known by the sobriquet "Utkal Keshari".


==Early life==
==Early life==
Harekrushna Mahtab was born at Agarpada village in [[Bhadrak district]] of [[Odisha]]. He was born to Krushna Charan Das and Tohapha Debi in an aristocratic [[Khandayat]] family.<ref name="Timesofindia.com, 2004">{{Cite news|last=Roy|first=Bhaskar|date=26 March 2004|title=Khandayats moving into political gear in Orissa|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=https://www.timesofindia.com/india/khandayats-moving-into-political-gear-in-orissa/articleshow/584674.cms}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Mishra|first=Digambar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SbsMAAAAYAAJ&q=mahatab+Khandayat|title=Political Behavior of Indian State Governors: A Study of the Role of Governor in Orissa|publisher=Saṁskṛiti|year=2003|pages=38|isbn=9788187374190}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Nanda|first=Chandi Prasad|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FzNFDwAAQBAJ&q=mahatab+Khandayat&pg=PA267|title=Vocalizing Silence: Political Protests in Orissa, 1930-42|publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|SAGE Publishing India]]|year=2008|pages=267|isbn=9789352802500|quote=... Brahmin vs Karan (writer) and Khandayat (warrior) —Nilakantha representing the former and Mahatab the latter.}}</ref> After passing his matriculation examination from Bhadrak High School, he joined [[Ravenshaw College]], [[Cuttack]] but left his studies in 1921 to join the independence movement.<ref name="orissa">{{cite web|url=http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2011/Nov/engpdf/46-50.pdf|date=30 November 2011|title=Dr. Harekrushna Mahatab – A Curious Combination of Conspicuous Characteristics|author=Dr. Narayan Panda|access-date=1 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="orissa2">{{cite web|url=http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/orissaannualreference/OR-Annual-2009/pdf/419-429.pdf|date=16 June 2010|title=ORISSA REFERENCE ANNUAL – 2009|access-date=1 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="docstoc">{{cite web|url=http://www.docstoc.com/docs/127646254/newsd19|title=ALUMNI: Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab|publisher=docstoc.com|access-date=1 October 2014}}</ref>
Harekrushna Mahtab was born at Agarpada village in [[Bhadrak district]] of [[Odisha]] to Krushna Charan Das and Tohapha Debi in an aristocratic [[Kshatriya]] family.<ref>{{Cite web |title=rediff.com: The evil that envelopes Orissa |url=https://m.rediff.com/news/2000/feb/14oriss.htm |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=m.rediff.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mishra |first=Digambar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SbsMAAAAYAAJ&q=mahatab |title=Political Behavior of Indian State Governors: A Study of the Role of Governor in Orissa |date=2003 |publisher=Saṁskṛiti |isbn=978-81-87374-19-0 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Nanda |first=Chandi Prasad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FzNFDwAAQBAJ&q=mahatab+Khandayat&pg=PA267 |title=Vocalizing Silence: Political Protests in Orissa, 1930-42 |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|SAGE Publishing India]] |year=2008 |isbn=9789352802500 |pages=267 |quote=... Brahmin vs Karan —Nilakantha representing the former and Mahatab the latter.}}</ref> He was adopted by his maternal grandfather Jaganath Mahtab, a zamindar of Agarpada.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Nanda|first1=CP|last2=Das|first2=MN|title=Builders of Modern India: Harekrushna Mahtab|date=2001 |publisher=Publications Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India |isbn=978-81-230-0905-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/harekrushnamahta00dasm/mode/2up}}</ref> After passing his matriculation examination from Bhadrak High School, he joined [[Ravenshaw College]], [[Cuttack]] but left his studies in 1921 to join the independence movement.<ref name="orissa">{{cite web|url=http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2011/Nov/engpdf/46-50.pdf|date=30 November 2011|title=Dr. Harekrushna Mahatab – A Curious Combination of Conspicuous Characteristics|author=Dr. Narayan Panda|access-date=1 October 2014|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092441/http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2011/Nov/engpdf/46-50.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="orissa2">{{cite web|url=http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/orissaannualreference/OR-Annual-2009/pdf/419-429.pdf|date=16 June 2010|title=ORISSA REFERENCE ANNUAL – 2009|access-date=1 October 2014|archive-date=16 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516110624/http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/orissaannualreference/OR-Annual-2009/pdf/419-429.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="docstoc">{{cite web|url=http://www.docstoc.com/docs/127646254/newsd19|title=ALUMNI: Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab|publisher=docstoc.com|access-date=1 October 2014|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006120221/http://www.docstoc.com/docs/127646254/newsd19|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Political career==
==Political career==
In 1922, Mahatab was imprisoned and charged of sedition. He was the Chairman of Balasore District Board from 1924 to 1928. He became the member of Bihar and Odisha Council in 1924. He joined the [[Salt Satyagraha]] movement and was imprisoned again in 1930. He was elected as the General Officer Commanding of Congress Sevadal for the [[All India Congress Committee|AICC]] session at Puri in 1932 and he was arrested when the party was banned. He participated in the movement against [[untouchability]] in 1934 and opened his ancestral temple to all for the first time in Odisha. Later, he started Gandhi Karma Mandir at Agarpada. He was the President of Utkal Pradesh Congress Committee from 1930 to 1931 and again in 1937. He was nominated to the Congress Working Committee by [[Subhas Chandra Bose]] in 1938 and continued till 1946 and again from 1946 to 1950. He was the President of State Peoples' Enquiry Committee in 1938 and recommended cancellation of Sanada of the rulers and merger of the erstwhile princely states with Odisha Province. He participated in the [[Quit India Movement]] in 1942 and was imprisoned from 1942 to 1945.<ref name="gandhitopia">{{cite web|url=http://www.gandhitopia.org/profiles/blogs/harekrushna-mahatab|title=Harekrushna Mahatab – GandhiTopia|publisher=gandhitopia.org|access-date=1 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="bhadrak">{{cite web|url=http://bhadrak.nic.in/freedomfighter.htm|title=~* Welcome to Bhadrak (Orissa) : The Official Website *~|publisher=bhadrak.nic.in|access-date=1 October 2014}}</ref>
In 1922, Mahatab was imprisoned and charged with sedition. He was the Chairman of Balasore District Board from 1924 to 1928. He became a member of Bihar and Odisha Council in 1924. He joined the [[Salt Satyagraha]] movement and was imprisoned again in 1930. He was elected as the General Officer Commanding of Congress Sevadal for the [[All India Congress Committee|AICC]] session at Puri in 1932 and was arrested when the party was banned. He participated in the movement against [[untouchability]] in 1934 and opened his ancestral temple to all for the first time in Odisha. Later, he started Gandhi Karma Mandir at Agarpada. He was the President of Utkal Pradesh Congress Committee from 1930 to 1931 and again in 1937. He was nominated to the Congress Working Committee by [[Subhas Chandra Bose]] in 1938 and continued till 1946 and again from 1946 to 1950. He was the President of State Peoples' Enquiry Committee in 1938 and recommended cancellation of Sanada of the rulers and merger of the erstwhile princely states with Odisha Province. He insisted on complete merger and not to leave any administrative control with the states. He was the initiator of the smaller states in orissa which was the first merger in the country. He participated in the [[Quit India Movement]] in 1942 and was imprisoned from 1942 to 1945.<ref name="gandhitopia">{{cite web|url=http://www.gandhitopia.org/profiles/blogs/harekrushna-mahatab|title=Harekrushna Mahatab – GandhiTopia|publisher=gandhitopia.org|access-date=1 October 2014|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006102102/http://www.gandhitopia.org/profiles/blogs/harekrushna-mahatab|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="bhadrak">{{cite web|url=http://bhadrak.nic.in/freedomfighter.htm|title=~* Welcome to Bhadrak (Orissa) : The Official Website *~|publisher=bhadrak.nic.in|access-date=1 October 2014|archive-date=3 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103011311/http://bhadrak.nic.in/freedomfighter.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>


Mahatab was the first Chief Minister of Odisha from 23 April 1946 to 12 May 1950. He was the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry from 1950 to 1952. He became the secretary general of the Congress Parliamentary Party in 1952. He was the Governor of Bombay from 1955 to 1956.<ref name="bhadrak"/><ref name="google">{{cite book|title=Memoirs of Nikita Khrushchev|author1=Khrushchev, N.S.|author2=Khrushchev, S.|date=2007|issue=v. 3|publisher=Pennsylvania State University|isbn=9780271029351|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nR0f25dmbn0C}}</ref><ref name="google2">{{cite book|title=While Serving My Nation: Recollections of a Congress Man|author=Mahtab, H.|date=1986|publisher=Vidyapuri|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rRYeAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> After resigning from Governorship in 1956, he again became the Chief Minister of Odisha from 1956 to 1960. During his tenures as the Chief Minister, he played significant role in the merger and integration of former princely states, shifting of the capital from [[Cuttack]] to [[Bhubaneshwar]] and the sanction and construction of the multi-purpose Hirakud Dam Project. He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1962 from [[Angul (Lok Sabha constituency)|Angul]] and became the vice-president of the Indian National Congress in 1966. In 1966, he resigned from the Congress and led the [[Orissa Jana Congress]]. He was elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly in 1967, 1971 and 1974. He was imprisoned in 1976 for protesting against the emergency.<ref name="google3">{{cite book|title=Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh: National Upsurge|author=Chitkara, G.|date=2004|publisher=A.P.H. Publishing Corporation|isbn=9788176484657|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ifuxzl9NM5sC|page=289}}</ref>
Mahatab was the first Chief Minister of Odisha from 23 April 1946 to 12 May 1950. He was the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry from 1950 to 1952. He became the secretary general of the Congress Parliamentary Party in 1952. He was the Governor of Bombay from 1955 to 1956.<ref name="bhadrak"/><ref name="google">{{cite book|title=Memoirs of Nikita Khrushchev|author1=Khrushchev, N.S.|author2=Khrushchev, S.|date=2007|issue=v. 3|publisher=Pennsylvania State University|isbn=9780271029351|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nR0f25dmbn0C}}</ref><ref name="google2">{{cite book|title=While Serving My Nation: Recollections of a Congress Man|author=Mahtab, H.|date=1986|publisher=Vidyapuri|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rRYeAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> After resigning from Governorship in 1956, he again became the Chief Minister of Odisha from 1956 to 1960. During his tenures as the Chief Minister, he played a significant role in the merger and integration of former princely states, shifting of the capital from [[Cuttack]] to [[Bhubaneshwar]] and the sanction and construction of the multi-purpose Hirakud Dam Project. He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1962 from [[Angul (Lok Sabha constituency)|Angul]] and became the vice-president of the Indian National Congress in 1966. In 1966, he resigned from the Congress and led the [[Orissa Jana Congress]]. He was elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly in 1967, 1971 and 1974. He was imprisoned in 1976 for protesting against the [[The Emergency (India)|Emergency]].<ref name="google3">{{cite book|title=Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh: National Upsurge|author=Chitkara, G.|date=2004|publisher=A.P.H. Publishing Corporation|isbn=9788176484657|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ifuxzl9NM5sC|page=289}}</ref>


==Intellectual pursuits==
==Intellectual pursuits==
He was the founder of the Prajatantra Prachar Samiti and started the weekly magazine ''Prajatantra'' in 1923 at Balasore, which later became the ''Daily Prajatantra''. He was the chief editor of a monthly journal ''Jhankar'' since its inception. He also published the Weekly English paper ''The Eastern Times'' and was its chief editor.
He was the founder of the [[Prajatantra Prachar Samiti]] and started the weekly magazine ''Prajatantra'' in 1923 at Balasore, which later became the ''Daily Prajatantra''. He was the chief editor of a monthly journal ''Jhankar'' since its inception. He also published the Weekly English paper ''The Eastern Times'' and was its chief editor.


He received the [[Sahitya Academy award]] in 1983 for the third volume of his well-known work, ''Gaon Majlis''.<ref name="orissa3">{{cite web|url=http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/orissaannualreference/ORA-2011/pdf/90-91.pdf|date=6 September 2012|title=RECIPIENTS OF KENDRA SAHITYA ACADEMY AWARD FOR ODIA LITERATURE|access-date=1 October 2014}}</ref>
He received the [[Sahitya Academy award]] in 1983 for the third volume of his well-known work, ''Gaon Majlis''.<ref name="orissa3">{{cite web|url=http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/orissaannualreference/ORA-2011/pdf/90-91.pdf|date=6 September 2012|title=RECIPIENTS OF KENDRA SAHITYA ACADEMY AWARD FOR ODIA LITERATURE|access-date=1 October 2014|archive-date=22 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322013419/http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/orissaannualreference/ORA-2011/pdf/90-91.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Awards and honours==
==Awards and honours==
He was the President of [[Orissa Sahitya Academy]] and Sangit Natak Academy for a couple of terms. He received an [[honorary Doctorate]] degree from [[Andhra University]], an honorary D.Litt. from [[Utkal University]] and an honorary Doctorate of Law from [[Sagar University]].<ref name="orissa4">{{cite web|url=http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2010/November/engpdf/14-16.pdf|date=6 January 2011|title=Dr. Harekrushna Mahatab : A Versatile Genius|author=Dr. Bhagabat Tripathy|access-date=1 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="orissa5">{{cite web|url=http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2011/Apr/engpdf/10-18.pdf|date=16 April 2011|title=The Makers of Modern Orissa|author=FAKIR MOHAN SENAPATI|access-date=1 October 2014}}</ref><br>
He was the President of [[Orissa Sahitya Academy]] and Sangit Natak Academy for a couple of terms. He received an [[honorary Doctorate]] degree from [[Andhra University]], an honorary D.Litt. from [[Utkal University]] and an honorary Doctorate of Law from [[Sagar University]].<ref name="orissa4">{{cite web|url=http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2010/November/engpdf/14-16.pdf|date=6 January 2011|title=Dr. Harekrushna Mahatab : A Versatile Genius|author=Dr. Bhagabat Tripathy|access-date=1 October 2014|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006091301/http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2010/November/engpdf/14-16.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="orissa5">{{cite web|url=http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2011/Apr/engpdf/10-18.pdf|date=16 April 2011|title=The Makers of Modern Orissa|author=FAKIR MOHAN SENAPATI|access-date=1 October 2014|archive-date=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193247/http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2011/Apr/engpdf/10-18.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><br>
The Odisha State Central Library, the apex library of the state public library system of Odisha is named after him as [[Harekrushna Mahtab State Library]]. It was established in 1959 with 3 acre campus at state capital, [[Bhubaneswar]].<ref>[http://hkmsl.gov.in/ Welcome to Harekrushna Mahtab State Library]. Hkmsl.gov.in. Retrieved on 26 November 2018.</ref><ref name="Hada Bajpai 2014 p. 36">{{cite book | last1=Hada | first1=K.S. | last2=Bajpai | first2=R. | title=Integrated Indian Public Library System | publisher=Partridge Publishing India | year=2014 | isbn=978-1-4828-2163-5 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ye5dBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT36 | access-date=2020-03-19 | page=36}}</ref>
The Odisha State Central Library, the apex library of the state public library system of Odisha is named after him as [[Harekrushna Mahtab State Library]]. It was established in 1959 with 3 acre campus at state capital, [[Bhubaneswar]].<ref>[http://hkmsl.gov.in/ Welcome to Harekrushna Mahtab State Library] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414131050/http://hkmsl.gov.in/ |date=14 April 2018 }}. Hkmsl.gov.in. Retrieved on 26 November 2018.</ref><ref name="Hada Bajpai 2014 p. 36">{{cite book | last1=Hada | first1=K.S. | last2=Bajpai | first2=R. | title=Integrated Indian Public Library System | publisher=Partridge Publishing India | year=2014 | isbn=978-1-4828-2163-5 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ye5dBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT36 | access-date=2020-03-19 | page=36}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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*[http://orissa.gov.in/cmorissa/cm.asp Orissa Chief Ministers List]
*[http://orissa.gov.in/cmorissa/cm.asp Orissa Chief Ministers List]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090410070616/http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/orissaannualreference/ORA-2005/pdf/name_of_chief_minister.pdf Orissa Chief Ministers]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090410070616/http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/orissaannualreference/ORA-2005/pdf/name_of_chief_minister.pdf Orissa Chief Ministers]
*[http://164.100.47.194/loksabha/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/823.htm Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website]
*[https://loksabha.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/823.htm Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website]
 
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{{Chief Ministers of Odisha}}
{{Chief Ministers of Odisha}}
{{Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)}}
{{Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)}}
{{Sahitya Akademi Award For Odia}}
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{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:1987 deaths]]
[[Category:1987 deaths]]
[[Category:Governors of Bombay]]
[[Category:Governors of Bombay]]
[[Category:Chief Ministers of Odisha]]
[[Category:Chief ministers of Odisha]]
[[Category:Members of the Constituent Assembly of India]]
[[Category:Members of the Constituent Assembly of India]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Odisha]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Odisha]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of British India]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of British India]]
[[Category:Journalists from Odisha]]
[[Category:Journalists from Odisha]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Odisha]]
[[Category:Ravenshaw University alumni]]
[[Category:Ravenshaw University alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian journalists]]
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Latest revision as of 18:44, 27 March 2026


Utkal Keshari
Harekrushna Mahatab
Mahatab on a 2000 stamp of India
1st Chief Minister of Odisha
In office
19 October 1956 – 25 February 1961
Preceded byNabakrushna Choudhuri
Succeeded byBijayananda Pattanaik
In office
26 January 1950 – 12 May 1950
Preceded byOffice Established
(himself as Prime Minister of Orissa)
Succeeded byNabakrushna Choudhuri
3rd Prime Minister of Orissa
In office
23 April 1946 – 26 January 1950
Preceded byKrushna Chandra Gajapati
Succeeded byPosition Abolished
(himself as Chief Minister of Orissa)
Governor of Bombay
In office
2 March 1955 – 14 October 1956
Chief MinisterMorarji Desai
Preceded byGirija Shankar Bajpai
Succeeded bySri Prakasa
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
1952–1955
Succeeded byNityanand Kanungo
ConstituencyCuttack
In office
1962–1967
Preceded byBadakumar Pratap Gangadeb
Succeeded byD. N. Deb
ConstituencyDeogarh
Minister of Commerce and Industry of India
In office
13 May 1950 – 26 December 1950
Preceded bySyama Prasad Mukherjee
Succeeded byNityanand Kanungo
Personal details
Born
Harekrushna Das

(1899-11-21)21 November 1899
Agarpada, Bengal Presidency, British India (now in Odisha)
Died2 January 1987(1987-01-02) (aged 87)
Political partyIndian National Congress
Orissa Jana Congress
Janata Party
Spouse(s)Subhadra Devi
ChildrenJashoda Kumari Jagaddeb Bhartruhari Mahtab
Alma materRavenshaw College
Writing career
LanguageOdia, English
PeriodColonial/Post Colonial India
GenreHistory, Biographies, Academic Theses
SubjectsIndian Politics, History
Notable worksGaon Majlis
Notable awardsSahitya Akademi Award

Harekrushna Mahatab (born Harekrushna Das, 21 November 1899 – 2 January 1987) was a leader of the Indian National Congress, a notable figure in the Indian independence movement and the Chief Minister of Odisha from 1946 to 1950 and from 1956 to 1961. He was popularly known by the sobriquet "Utkal Keshari".

Early life[edit | edit source]

Harekrushna Mahtab was born at Agarpada village in Bhadrak district of Odisha to Krushna Charan Das and Tohapha Debi in an aristocratic Kshatriya family.[1][2][3] He was adopted by his maternal grandfather Jaganath Mahtab, a zamindar of Agarpada.[4] After passing his matriculation examination from Bhadrak High School, he joined Ravenshaw College, Cuttack but left his studies in 1921 to join the independence movement.[5][6][7]

Political career[edit | edit source]

In 1922, Mahatab was imprisoned and charged with sedition. He was the Chairman of Balasore District Board from 1924 to 1928. He became a member of Bihar and Odisha Council in 1924. He joined the Salt Satyagraha movement and was imprisoned again in 1930. He was elected as the General Officer Commanding of Congress Sevadal for the AICC session at Puri in 1932 and was arrested when the party was banned. He participated in the movement against untouchability in 1934 and opened his ancestral temple to all for the first time in Odisha. Later, he started Gandhi Karma Mandir at Agarpada. He was the President of Utkal Pradesh Congress Committee from 1930 to 1931 and again in 1937. He was nominated to the Congress Working Committee by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1938 and continued till 1946 and again from 1946 to 1950. He was the President of State Peoples' Enquiry Committee in 1938 and recommended cancellation of Sanada of the rulers and merger of the erstwhile princely states with Odisha Province. He insisted on complete merger and not to leave any administrative control with the states. He was the initiator of the smaller states in orissa which was the first merger in the country. He participated in the Quit India Movement in 1942 and was imprisoned from 1942 to 1945.[8][9]

Mahatab was the first Chief Minister of Odisha from 23 April 1946 to 12 May 1950. He was the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry from 1950 to 1952. He became the secretary general of the Congress Parliamentary Party in 1952. He was the Governor of Bombay from 1955 to 1956.[9][10][11] After resigning from Governorship in 1956, he again became the Chief Minister of Odisha from 1956 to 1960. During his tenures as the Chief Minister, he played a significant role in the merger and integration of former princely states, shifting of the capital from Cuttack to Bhubaneshwar and the sanction and construction of the multi-purpose Hirakud Dam Project. He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1962 from Angul and became the vice-president of the Indian National Congress in 1966. In 1966, he resigned from the Congress and led the Orissa Jana Congress. He was elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly in 1967, 1971 and 1974. He was imprisoned in 1976 for protesting against the Emergency.[12]

Intellectual pursuits[edit | edit source]

He was the founder of the Prajatantra Prachar Samiti and started the weekly magazine Prajatantra in 1923 at Balasore, which later became the Daily Prajatantra. He was the chief editor of a monthly journal Jhankar since its inception. He also published the Weekly English paper The Eastern Times and was its chief editor.

He received the Sahitya Academy award in 1983 for the third volume of his well-known work, Gaon Majlis.[13]

Awards and honours[edit | edit source]

He was the President of Orissa Sahitya Academy and Sangit Natak Academy for a couple of terms. He received an honorary Doctorate degree from Andhra University, an honorary D.Litt. from Utkal University and an honorary Doctorate of Law from Sagar University.[14][15]
The Odisha State Central Library, the apex library of the state public library system of Odisha is named after him as Harekrushna Mahtab State Library. It was established in 1959 with 3 acre campus at state capital, Bhubaneswar.[16][17]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "rediff.com: The evil that envelopes Orissa". m.rediff.com. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  2. ↑ Mishra, Digambar (2003). Political Behavior of Indian State Governors: A Study of the Role of Governor in Orissa. Saṁskṛiti. ISBN 978-81-87374-19-0.
  3. ↑ Nanda, Chandi Prasad (2008). Vocalizing Silence: Political Protests in Orissa, 1930-42. SAGE Publishing India. p. 267. ISBN 9789352802500. ... Brahmin vs Karan —Nilakantha representing the former and Mahatab the latter.
  4. ↑ Nanda, CP; Das, MN (2001). Builders of Modern India: Harekrushna Mahtab. Publications Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India. ISBN 978-81-230-0905-6.
  5. ↑ Dr. Narayan Panda (30 November 2011). "Dr. Harekrushna Mahatab – A Curious Combination of Conspicuous Characteristics" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "ORISSA REFERENCE ANNUAL – 2009" (PDF). 16 June 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "ALUMNI: Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab". docstoc.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "Harekrushna Mahatab – GandhiTopia". gandhitopia.org. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "~* Welcome to Bhadrak (Orissa) : The Official Website *~". bhadrak.nic.in. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  10. ↑ Khrushchev, N.S.; Khrushchev, S. (2007). Memoirs of Nikita Khrushchev. Pennsylvania State University. ISBN 9780271029351.
  11. ↑ Mahtab, H. (1986). While Serving My Nation: Recollections of a Congress Man. Vidyapuri.
  12. ↑ Chitkara, G. (2004). Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh: National Upsurge. A.P.H. Publishing Corporation. p. 289. ISBN 9788176484657.
  13. ↑ "RECIPIENTS OF KENDRA SAHITYA ACADEMY AWARD FOR ODIA LITERATURE" (PDF). 6 September 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  14. ↑ Dr. Bhagabat Tripathy (6 January 2011). "Dr. Harekrushna Mahatab : A Versatile Genius" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  15. ↑ FAKIR MOHAN SENAPATI (16 April 2011). "The Makers of Modern Orissa" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  16. ↑ Welcome to Harekrushna Mahtab State Library Archived 14 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Hkmsl.gov.in. Retrieved on 26 November 2018.
  17. ↑ Hada, K.S.; Bajpai, R. (2014). Integrated Indian Public Library System. Partridge Publishing India. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-4828-2163-5. Retrieved 19 March 2020.

External links[edit | edit source]

Government offices
Preceded by
Bishwanath Das 		Chief Minister of Odisha
23 April 1946 to 12 May 1950 		Succeeded by
Nabakrushna Choudhuri
Preceded by
Girija Shankar Bajpai 		Governor of Bombay
2 March 1955 to 14 October 1956 		Succeeded by
Sri Prakasa
Preceded by
Nabakrushna Choudhuri 		Chief Minister of Odisha
19 October 1956 to 25 February 1961 		Succeeded by
Biju Pattanaik

Template:Sahitya Akademi Award For Odia

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