Should reshape our country to ensure all citizens have essential freedoms: Vice President

He was addressing the 211th Martyrdom Day of Shaheed Jayee Rajguru, organized by Odisha Forum, here on Wednesday.

Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

The Vice President said that Jayee Rajguru made the supreme sacrifice of his life on this day for the independence of this country, sparking a massive “Paika Vidroh” or war against the British in Odisha and other parts of the country.

He further said that Jaya Krushna Mahapatra was the Rajguru of King of Khurda as was popularly known as Jayee Rajguru.

"The first war of independence had also raised its head in the Khurda kingdom in Odisha and the hero of this earliest war of Indian independence was Jayee Rajguru," he added.

The Vice President said that the story of Jayee Rajguru is awe inspiring and demonstrates the heroic patriotism of many of our ancestors who sacrificed their lives for our motherland.

He further said that the Khurda Rising of 1804 which Shaheed Rajguru led from the front was truly a people’s war. 

"The battle skill, valour and sacrifices of Jayee Rajguru and his followers are still remembered by the people even after 200 years," he added.

Naidu said that "Jayee Rajguru was the first martyr from Orissa in the freedom struggle and also one of the earliest martyrs in our Freedom Movement."

He further said that he was not only a brave warrior but a Great Sanskrit Scholar of his time and was an astute Rajguru.

"We are proud that such noble individuals have lived in our country and left behind a glorious saga of sacrifice and as a nation we shall be ever grateful to such heroes," he added.