Nabakrushna Choudhuri - Progressive Chief Minister

Progressive Chief Minister

Nabababu was a very progressive Chief Minister. The age-old Zamindari system was finally abolished. The farmer became free of exploitation by the Zamindar and got ownership right on his land. Nabababu’s experience as Revenue Minister stood him in good stead. His concern for the welfare of the people made Anchal Shasan a reality which was the precursor to the Community Development Programme launched in Odisha on the Gandhi Jayanti Day of 1952. Mere formulation of rules and regulations with the appointment of officers did not mean much to Nabababu. He used to see the fieldwork for himself.

The Hirakud Dam was constructed during Nabababu’s Chief Ministership. There were resistance and opposition from many quarters who were not in favour of having the Dam. Even some of his own people belonged to that camp. Nothing doing. Nababu’s determination saw to it that the Dam was constructed according to schedule.

In those days officers were reluctant to visit the tribal areas. Some officers in the tribal areas were exploiting the people. Moneylenders were also exploiting them by forcibly occupying their land and employing them as bonded labourers. Such exploitation of the simple tribal people went on increasing, as a result of which the tribals of Koraput District revolted against the erring officers and tyrant moneylenders. Government officers wanted to suppress the same by the police, but they were not permitted to do so by Nabababu. He sent some good officers there to understand the problems of the tribal people.

He himself went to those areas to have a feel of the whole thing. He used to walk in those areas. When the Chief Minister was going to the people to assess and appreciate their problems, the Government Officials, landowning farmers and moneylenders could not exploit them.

In 1954, an Agriculture College and a Veterinary College were established at Bhubaneswar. An Engineering College was also established at Burla, Sambalpur. The Agriculture and Veterinary Colleges became two components of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, which also had a Department of Architecture. Nabababu was a member of its Governing Body for many years. The Burla Engineering College became a part of the Sambalpur University.