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Shaheed Laxman Nayak
Laxman Nayak, a folk-hero of Orissa and a cult-figure among its tribals, was born on 22nd November, 1899 in Tentuliguma village of Koraput district and his father padlam Nayal was a tribal chieftain and 'Mustadar' under 'Jeypore Samasthanam' in the then Madras Presidency.
The local administration worked as an ant of the British Government. The tribals under this administration were treated like children of a lesser God and where subjected top inhuman torture and perform eve by pretty revenue officials, forest guides and police constables.lawman Kayak organised the trebles against exploitation by the officials of Jeypore Samasthanamand its British masters successfully. This broughthim recognition as a potential tribal leader and the National Congress admitted Laxman nayak into its fold. During the course of his training in Naupuri training centre for Congress workers, Laxman Nayak had the opportunity to meet and interact with several Zonal and State level leaders an and get a chance to broaden his horizons. This taining inculcated in him a spirit for Nationalism and indoctrinated him with the Gandhian principles of truth, nonviolence and peaceful non-cooperation with the British Government. He carried a Charkha, with the message of adult education and abstinence form alcohol to every tribal household of his area and brought about a total change in the rural scenario. He became the Chef de Mission in the Congress campaign ion the Malkangiri Sub-division during the first ever election 1936.
Howerver, greater things were in store for him. Responding to the call of Mahatma Gandhi, laxman Nayak led a procession on 21st August 1942 an demonstrated peacefully in front of Mythili Police Station . But the police fired at the demonstrators indiscriminately.which claimed forty lives and more than two hundred were injured. But the administration further falsely implicated Lawman Kayak in a case of murder and the death sentence was pronounced on him on 13th November, 1942.He was hanged to death on 29th March 1943 in Berharmpur Jail.
Nayak in Oriya means chief of atribe, a leader and a hero. Laxman Nayak was all these andmuch more. Text Courtesy : Government of Orissa.
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