KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, Oct 21: A group of Utkal Association functionaries met former chief minister Raghubar Das to felicitate him over his appointment as Governor of Odisha.
Led by Dr Sridhar Pradhan, president of the premier Odiya socio-cultural body in the steel city, the functionaries wished Das a successful tenure as the Governor of their home state.
“During your stint as chief minister of Jharkhand, you have done much for the interest and development of the Odiya community here in Jamshedpur. We are hopeful that you will keep the same spirit by serving the land of Lord Jagannath as Governor, ” Dr Pradhan told Raghubar Das while meeting him.
Those who accompanied the Utkal Association president in felicitating the newly-appointed Governor include the association’s vice-presidents Dr Sanjay Patra (dean XLRI), writer Badal Bhuiya, general secretary Tarun Kumar Mohanty, assistant secretary Bibhuti Bhushan Mohanty and treasurer Manish Dash.
It may be mentioned here that it is Raghubar Das who allotted over 2.5 acres of land for the proposed Jagannath Spiritual Centre along the Kadma-Sonari marine drive when he was chief minister.
Dedicated to the Odiya community here and being promoted by prominent industrialist SK Behera, the proposed Jagannath Spiritual Centre will comprise a magnificent Jagannath temple beside other cultural and inspirational facilities for the people of the steel city and beyond.
Responding to the warm gesture of the Utkal Association functionaries, Raghubar Das said it is a fortunate thing to happen that he has been blessed to serve by going over the land of Lord Jagannath. He also invited the visiting functionaries to drop in the Governor’s house in Bhubaneswar after he assumed his new responsibility.
