A lawyer and tax consultant by profession, Dillip Dashsharma is a social activist by choice. A tax consultant with a roaring practice, he has combined in him the streak of a Cassandra of a high order. He has hundred irons in the fire to his credit and all of them are red hot indeed! After his PG in Commerce from Dhenkanal College, he did his LLB from Utkal University. He has also added a PG degree in Labour Law. He is the founder-president of Orissa Voluntary Blood Donors’ and Motivators’ Association, founder-president of Utkal Sammilani Mancheswar Industrial Estate branch, general secretary of Bhubaneswar VSS Nagar Development Committee. Besides, he is an Executive Committee Member of Police Commissionerate Red Cross Branch, Life Member of Indian Red Cross Society and Life Member of St John Ambulance Association. He always champions the cause of Odias and Odisha in matters of inter-State border disputes.
In an interview to The Pioneer, Dassharma spoke to Sugyan Choudhury.
What are your areas of social activities?
As member of a civil society, I have an obligation towards my fellow beings. I have inculcated this spirit from college days. The motto is “Service to man is service to God”. I became a member of NCC, NSS and National Service Volunteer Core affiliated to Nehru Yuba Kendra during my college days. In due course, I became a member of Indian Red Cross Society, which broadened my outlook for humanitarian service and serve the needy during natural calamities. Another noblest work I was attracted to is voluntary blood donation. It is said donation of blood is one of the most sacrosanct services to mankind. I founded the Voluntary Blood Donors’ and Motivators’ Association. Blood donation increased manifold by 2010 which stands around 70% at present. I also became a life member of Utkal Sammilani. A branch of the Utkal Sammilani at Mancheswar Industrial Estate was established and I am its founder-president till now. I became increasingly involved in the welfare efforts at VSS Nagar like VSS Nagar Durga Puja Committee and VSS Nagar Development Committee. Besides, I have been elected as vice-president of the Bhubaneswar Durga Bhasani Committee. My association with the Red Cross activities gave me a foothold in the Police Commissionerate Red Cross Branch as an active member leading me to become an Executive Committee Member.
What are the other social activities you have undertaken to reach your mission?
One of the most enduring, satisfying and important works has been garlanding the statues of eminent sons of Odisha on their birthdays or death anniversaries on behalf of the Utkal Sammilani. Many other organisations including the State Culture Department Government are following our examples now. The Utkal Sammilani, Mancheswar Industrial Estate branch demanded “Bande Utkal Janani” as the State song which was acceded to by the Government in the long run.
How many blood donation camps you have organised so far?
We have organised many mega blood donation camps. One such camp held on April 1, 2005 on the Utkal Divas stands out in memory being the biggest so far. Besides, mega blood donation camps were held at Brahmapur, Angul, Talcher, Deogarh and Baripada, etc. As an individual, I have donated blood more than 100 times, but I do not keep records according to Hindu belief like no one keeps any account of bananas and coconuts offered to God. A true Christian never keeps record of candles he lighted in a church or a Muslim too never keeps records of ‘Chadar’ offered at a Dargha. This is an Indian tradition. I am involved in almost all blood donation camps held by private organisations and Police Commissionerate Red Cross Branch.
What are the other areas of your interest in the social domain?
I write popular articles in Odia and English newspapers. Besides, periodicals such as “Utkal Sammilani Samachar Patrika” is edited and published by me as the chief editor.
How far has the Utkal Sammilani been able to check the expansionist designs of Andhra Pradesh?
I was a member of the Utkal Sammilani team which visited the disputed Kotia cluster of villages in Koraput district, Sanakhamedi village and Udayapur seashore near Chandaneswar in Baleswar district adjacent to Digha in West Bengal. I often write to Government on critical issues affecting interest of Odisha such as for solving the border issues, formation of an Inter-State Security Council by the Central Government and a Border Development Council in the pattern of Western Odisha Development Council.
What are your plans to revive Odia nationalism?
The Utkal Sammilani since its inception has been fighting for the cause of Odia people and their language and making every effort to keep Odias in all spheres as a united force as far Odia nationalism is concerned. It mounts pressure on Government and all business establishments to display their names in Odia. We ask people to print all types of invitation cards in Odia and plead with the invitees to politely refuse invitation if written in English. On our demand, the Government of Jharkhand has accepted Odia as the State’s second official language. Our quest to make Odia as the second language in Chhattisgarh is still in full force. We pursue the cause of Odia nationalism relentlessly and have requested the Odisha Government to upload all Odia textbooks in a designated website so that Odias in India and abroad can read in their own language.
How do you combine your social activities with your professional obligations?
It is said that only busy men have time in their purse. You see I am an advocate and tax consultant. My personal chores and domestic issues are taken care of by mini coherent family; and that is how I have been able to maintain an ideal chemistry between my dual obligations.
