Bhubaneswar: The Madhu Babu Memorial Museum will be established on the campus of Shailabala Women’s Autonomous College in Cuttack, in a move aimed at preserving the rich legacy of Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Higher Education, Sports & Youth Services, Odia Language, Literature & Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj. The museum will be developed by the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department.
The proposed museum will be set up at a historically significant site within the college premises, where Madhusudan Das’s conference hall and residential office once functioned. The initiative seeks to document, preserve and showcase the life, ideals and multifaceted contributions of Madhu Babu, who played a pivotal role in Odisha’s social, political and cultural renaissance.
Recalling the historical association of the site, it was noted that in 1952, Shailabala Das, daughter of Madhusudan Das, donated her father’s residence for the promotion of women’s education in Odisha, which led to the establishment of the Shailabala Women’s College. She also donated her own residence, Madhumandir, to further support the institution, reflecting the family’s enduring commitment to education and social reform.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said that both Madhusudan Das and Shailabala Das were pioneers in strengthening women’s education in the state. He said the proposed memorial museum would serve as a source of inspiration for future generations by keeping alive Madhu Babu’s vision, ideals and lifelong dedication to social progress.
Senior officials present at the meeting included Aravind Agrawal, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Higher Education Department; Dr. Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya, Secretary, Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department; Kali Prasanna Mahapatra, Director, Higher Education Department; Bijay Kumar Nayak, Additional Press Secretary to the President; and Jiban Ballav Jena, Principal, Shailabala Women’s Autonomous College.
