Odia community in Dubai pays tribute to freedom fighter

Members of the Odia community in Dubai marked the Indian Republic Day by recalling the struggles and resilience of Veer Surendra Sai, a freedom fighter and revolutionary leader from Odisha.
Community members paid tribute to the legendary freedom fighter whose 212th birth anniversary fell on January 23. The celebrations started with participants paying floral tributes to the freedom fighter, followed by an extravagant display of Sai's valour, bravery and heroism in the form of speeches and patriotic poetry. Eminent Odia/Sambalpuri author and dramatist Mangulu Charan Biswal's popular play on Sai was fondly recalled and his special video address from India was played out during the event.
Global Odias for Odisha Development (GOOD) community member, Captain Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, said: "We must remember and respect our heroes and legends. Such a function was much needed to celebrate the life and times of this legendary fighter and spread awareness about his bravery and heroism. It is a small tribute to his great legacy."
Priyadarshee Panigrahi, also from GOOD, said that he had watched the play as a child and was fascinated by his bravery. "The fact that he spent 37 years in jail, probably longer than any other freedom fighter in the world, needed to be emphasised and told to the whole world. Sai was also one of the earliest proponents of guerilla warfare and it is this strategy that he used successfully against the British."
Odia community member Manas Panda said: "We hope that non-resident Indians across the world will get inspired by this event and propagate his inspirational legacy."
The Odia community also submitted a request to the Indian Consulate in Dubai to hang a portrait of freedom fighter Sai at its premises.
saman@khaleejtimes.com