A statue of freedom fighter and revolutionary leader Raghu Sardar was unveiled here at Phulnakhara, 74 years after the noted freedom fighter and social worker laid down his life in the freedom struggle.
Raghunath Pattnaik alias Raghu Sardar was born at a village in the cluster of Bailaishi mouza of Cuttack district, who at his young age was inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and started his activities against the British rule at Cuttack. Irked by his activities, the British police had taken him to custody torturing him often. Finally Raghu left for Khidirpur, Kolkotta and laid the freedom struggle with the support of innumerable Odia and Bengali youths.
Miffed by his continuous struggle the British conspired against him. He was murdered on August 14 night in 1947 by communal elements, who had played into the British hand. As a social worker he played a pivotal role in recruiting poor Odia youths there at Kolkata in various industries and was also known as a labour leader.
The statue of Sardar was unveiled by Bhubaneswar North MLA Sustant Rout, in presence of Sardar's son Dr BN Patnaik and Bhubaneswar Central MLA Ananta Narayan Jena. A market complex was also inaugurated along with a health camp in the name of Sardar.
Prominent among others present on the occasion were journalist Sugyan Choudhury, bureaucrat Laxmidhar Behera, Kabita Manjari Parida, Sudhansu Mahapatra, Rasmita Sahoo, Pramila Mahapatra and Pramod Parida.
