Bhubaneswar, Aug 21: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday said that Gurujang, the birthplace of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, would be developed as a ‘heritage village’, while Gurujang Gram Panchayat would be transformed into a ‘model panchayat’.

The Chief Minister attended a celebration at Gurujang, near Talcher in Angul district, marking the birth centenary of Swamiji.

Addressing a gathering, Chief Minister Majhi said Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati was not merely an individual but represented a great ideal, a remarkable institution and a guiding light of Sanatana Dharma.

According to the Chief Minister, Swamiji gave up the comforts of modern life and dedicated himself to serving vulnerable tribal communities in the remote and densely forested areas of Kandhamal.

 Through the Chakapad and Jalespeta ashrams and the establishment of a girls’ Gurukul, he worked to provide tribal girls with Sanskrit education, cultural values and opportunities for self-reliance, he said.

The Chief Minister said the cultural foundation laid by Swamiji had grown into a larger movement, while his efforts to raise awareness against religious conversion had become an important part of the social discourse in Odisha.

“Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati is the ‘Guru, Granth and Garima’ of our society,” the Chief Minister said.

Highlighting the state government’s initiatives to honour Swamiji’s contribution, Majhi said the Phulabani Government Medical College had been renamed Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Medical College.

The government has also sanctioned ₹13 crore from the Chief Minister’s Special Assistance (CMSA) fund for the development of Jalespeta Ashram, its school and girls’ ashram, as well as for heritage conservation.

Of the sanctioned amount, ₹5 crore will be spent on a 300-seat hostel for female students. Another ₹3 crore will be allocated for heritage-site conservation, while a mega river-lift project will be implemented to strengthen drinking-water supply in the area.

The development of Gurujang as a Heritage Village is expected to further highlight the spiritual, cultural and historical significance of Swamiji’s birthplace.

The Chief Minister also recalled the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati on Janmashtami night in 2008 and strongly criticised what he described as the failures, negligence and appeasement politics of the then government.

From the platform, the Chief Minister assured the people of Odisha that justice would be delivered for Swamiji’s death.

Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy paid tribute to Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and urged society to follow the path shown by Swamiji and called upon young people to draw inspiration from his sacrifice and struggle.

She emphasised the need for the younger generation to preserve its foundational education, ethical values and cultural traditions while carrying forward the ideals of service and social responsibility associated with Swamiji.

Former Union Education Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan, who attended the centenary celebration, thanked Chief Minister Majhi for declaring Gurujang a Heritage Village and the Gurujang Panchayat a Model Panchayat.

Pradhan described the decision as a significant tribute to Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati’s enduring legacy and said it would further enhance the spiritual and cultural identity of the region.

He said Swamiji was not merely a saint but a leading figure in promoting education, cultural values and social awakening among tribal communities. His work in difficult and remote areas such as Kandhamal, aimed at promoting self-reliance and restoring dignity among tribal communities, was unparalleled, Pradhan said.

He further highlighted Swamiji’s work through the Jalespeta and Chakapad ashrams, particularly his efforts to educate tribal girls in Sanskrit and ethical values.

According to Pradhan, the social transformation initiated by Swamiji remains a source of inspiration for today’s youth.

The centenary celebration was attended by Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Ravi Narayan Naik, MP Rudra Narayan Pani, Kandhamal MP Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi, Parjang MLA Bibhuti Bhushan Pradhan, Palalahada MLA Ashok Mahanty and Hindol MLA Seemarani Nayak.