Bhubaneswar : July 28, 2026
Four left parties have come together to condemn the recent attempt of the Mohan Majhi Government to rename the Government Medical College, Phulbani after Laxmananada Saraswati- a highly controversial and communal Hindu priest who was killed by Naxals on August 23, 2008. They have appealed to the Tribal Chief Minister Mohan Majhi to honour the legendary freedom fighter and tribal leader of the area Chakra Bisoi by renaming the college after him.
The Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation [CPI(ML) Liberation], and the All India Forward Bloc in a joint press statement said that a government medical college and hospital is a public institution dedicated equally to people of all religions, castes, communities, and social sections. Therefore, it should be named after a person who enjoys universal respect across society and whose life reflects the ideals of humanity, social harmony, and public welfare.
The statement further said that associating the name of Laxmanananda Saraswati with a government institution would revive memories of the communal divisions that have persisted for many years in Kandhamal and other parts of Odisha. His activities have remained the subject of deep social and political controversy for years. There is a widespread public perception that his name is associated with religious polarisation, communal tension, and social division in Kandhamal. Naming a government medical college after such a controversial figure would run contrary to the secular and constitutional values of the Republic, endanger social harmony, and amount to an inappropriate attempt to use past events for political purposes.
The statement also expressed concern over the State Government’s decision to sanction ₹13 crore for the ashram, schools, and girls’ hostel run by Laxmanananda Saraswati. It said that spending public money to promote any particular ideological or communal agenda is inconsistent with the fundamental principles of a secular and democratic constitutional system.
The four Left parties stated that the Phulbani Medical College and Hospital should instead be named after a great personality who symbolizes Odisha’s history, particularly the struggles, self-respect, and contribution of the Adivasi community to the freedom movement. They therefore demanded that the institution be named after the great Adivasi freedom fighter Chakra Bisoi.
Chakra Bisoi was one of the greatest heroes of Odisha’s freedom struggle. He organized the Kandh Adivasis of the Ghumusar-Kandhamal region and led a prolonged armed resistance against British colonial rule. He dedicated his life to defending the people’s land, forests, water, culture, and dignity. His struggle was not merely that of the Adivasi community but a glorious chapter in the history of the entire state of Odisha. Chakra Bisoi shares a deep historical association with Phulbani and the entire Kandhamal region. Naming the Medical College after him would not only pay rightful tribute to a great freedom fighter but would also accord due recognition to the history, dignity, and contribution of the Adivasi community.
These Left parties further demanded that the State Government immediately withdraw its proposal to name the Phulbani Medical College after Laxmanananda Saraswati and instead name it after Chakra Bisoi. They stated that ignoring the renowned leader of the Kandh rebellion, Chakra Bisoi, and naming a publicly funded government institution after Laxmanananda Saraswati is deeply disturbing. If the Government is genuinely committed to honouring the heritage of Kandhamal, they questioned why the Medical College is not being named after Chakra Bisoi or any other distinguished freedom fighter from the region.
The joint statement has been signed by Dr. Prasanta Kumar Mishra, State Secretary, CPI; Suresh Chandra Panigrahy, State Secretary, CPI(M); Yudhisthir Mahapatra, State Secretary, CPI(ML) Liberation; and Jyotiranjan Mahapatra, State General Secretary, All India Forward Bloc.
In another press statement
The Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS) and the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Mancha have opposed the State Government’s decision to name the proposed Kandhamal Medical College after Laxmanananda.” Since Kandhamal is a tribal-dominated district, the medical college should have been named after a prominent personality from the tribal community. However, for its narrow political interests, the government has named it after Laxmanananda, a person with radical Hindutva and communal ideology. He was a controversial figure who played no positive role other than causing Hindu-Christian division and riots in Kandhamal. Even after his death in 2008, his communal supporters orchestrated the largest communal riots in Kandhamal’s history. Consequently, attacks and violence were carried out against minority Christians in Kandhamal as well as in various other districts of the state. Many people lost their lives, women were gang-raped, and thousands of houses were looted and burned down. Therefore, it is unfortunate to name Kandhamal’s long-awaited medical college after a controversial person like Laxmanananda. The government might have thought of serving its political interests by doing so, but it sends no good message to society. While there was a need to promote unity and brotherhood among different communities in a communally sensitive district like Kandhamal, this step by the government has reopened the wounds of division.”
They have demanded that” the Kandhamal Government Medical College be named after Chakara Bisoyi, the great warrior of the anti-British Ghumusar Rebellion and a great hero of the tribals. Previously, the Koraput Medical College was named after Martyr Laxman Nayak, and the Kalahandi Medical College was named after Martyr Rindo Majhi. They have further appealed to the government to rise above party considerations and reconsider its decision.
The Press statement has been signed by Pratap Kumar Nayak State Secretary of AIKMS ,Kedar Sabar Convenor of Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Mancha and Kushanath Pradhan District Convenor of Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Mancha, Kandhamal.
The Samadrusti also has got feedback from independent sources which suggests that because of saffronization of tribal communities their protest is not visible. Tribal and Dalit organizations are also of the opinion that this move of the government will only revive the ugly and hateful work of the dead priest Laxamananda Saraswati. If the government has any intention to restore trust, peace and harmony in Kandhamal it should desist from the move.
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