The interest shown by retired Army General G.D. Bakshi in installing a grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Cuttack, along with his participation in a signature campaign, is certainly welcome. Netaji is our pride, and there is no doubt about that. However, this also raises an important question—is building yet another monument really the right priority?
Cuttack already has several prominent landmarks in Netaji’s name: the Netaji Birthplace Museum, Netaji Memorial and Interpretation Centre, Netaji Promod Udyan, Netaji Bus Terminal, Netaji Memorial City College, Netaji Subhas Setu, Netaji Arcade, and Netaji Subhas Chhak. In Bhubaneswar, Puri, and other parts of Odisha as well, many memorials, parks, roads, and squares have already been named after him.
Yet, many lesser-known Odia heroes and heritage sites remain neglected. The legendary figure Baimundi, who once saved Cuttack, has no fitting memorial. The condition of Madhubabu’s residence—belonging to one of Odisha’s greatest sons—is far from satisfactory. Likewise, there is no truly deserving memorial for music maestro Akshaya Mohanty.
At the same time, Barabati Fort and its surrounding moat are losing their charm due to neglect. The Mahanadi riverfront remains underdeveloped; the Taladanda Canal is in poor condition; and many historic buildings in Cuttack are collapsing. Even India’s only printing press museum looks more like a warehouse. In such circumstances, preserving and restoring existing heritage appears more urgent than constructing new monuments.
Odisha takes equal pride in both Gandhi and Bose. Mahatma Gandhi’s first public meeting in Odisha was held at the Kathajodi riverbed in Cuttack on March 23, 1921—a moment of great historical importance. Therefore, rather than encouraging division, the focus should remain on harmony and shared respect.
The time has come to recognize and honor overlooked Odia heroes and heritage. Memorials for the Paika Rebellion, Kharavela, Kapilendra Deva, the innocent victims of the Kalinga War, the Kosali–Sambalpuri language movement, the Amko-Simko martyrs, Madhubabu, Barabati’s restoration, Adikabi Sarala Das, and the Odia Mahabharata still await attention.
The truth is simple: in Odisha today, development and public welfare are needed far more than new monuments.
Memorial for the First War of Independence (Paika Rebellion) ❌
Kharavela Memorial ❌
Kapilendra Memorial ❌
Memorial for the Innocent Odias who Sacrificed their Lives in the Kalinga War ❌
Kosali–Sambalpuri Language Memorial ❌
Amko–Simko National Memorial ❌
Madhubabu Memorial ❌
Cuttack Heritage City Memorial ❌
Restoration of Barabati’s Historic Grandeur ❌
Adikabi Sarala Das Memorial ❌
Memorial for the First Complete Odia Mahabharata Written in a Regional Language ❌
The list of what is missing goes on and on.
Readers may add more…
By Subhransu Panda
He is an Odia author, nomadic traveller. He raises a strong voice for Odia identity, pride and culture. He can be connected at authorsubhransu@gmail.com.
[Views are personal]
