Bhubaneswar, 9 October (H.S.): Pandit Gopabandhu Das, affectionately known as Utkalmani, epitomised selfless service, dedicating his life to the welfare of others. He believed that serving humanity was the truest form of worship and adhered to the principle that one's duty extends beyond personal interests. Emphasising these ideals, Deepak Kumar Raut, Kshetra Seva Pramukh of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Poorva Kshetra, urged everyone to draw inspiration from Pandit Gopabandhu Das's life and philosophy and to pursue a path of service and compassion.

As the chief speaker at a blood donation camp organised by the Utkal Bipanna Sahayata Samiti (UBSS) to commemorate the birth anniversary of Pandit Gopabandhu Das, Raut highlighted that the great social reformer's life was characterised not just by service but also by a profound sense of kartavya (duty). He described blood donation as a symbol of enlightened service and appealed to the youth to step forward and contribute selflessly to society.

As in previous years, October 9 was celebrated as ‘Seva Diwas’ (Day of Service) by UBSS to honour the birth anniversary of Utkalmani. On this occasion, the organisation hosted a blood donation camp at its headquarters, Seva Parisar, located in Mancheswar, Bhubaneswar.

The inaugural ceremony of the event was attended by Dr. Prabhat Kumar Das, Director and Cardiologist at Capital Hospital, as the Chief Guest, Dr. Debasish Mishra, Blood Bank Officer, as the Guest of Honour, and Shri Abhay Samantaray, President of UBSS, who presided over the programme.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda