Mahanga, 5th Nov 2025: The Government of Odisha recently included 51 villages under the ‘Heritage Village of Great Sons’ scheme. Significant funds have been allocated for the overall development of these villages. The Mahanga block is the birthplace and workplace of many notable personalities. Among them are poet Nandkishore Bal, artist and guru Bimbadhar Barma, poet Gnanendra Barma, freedom fighter Rajendra Barma, revolutionary scholar Labanglata Devi, Mahanga Gandhi activist Sachchidananda Jena, freedom fighter Hemanta Kishore Bal, progressive editor and former MP Pradyumna Kishore Bal, and children’s writer Nand Kishore Samal. Because of this, the village of Kusupur is considered one of the greatest villages of illustrious sons.
However, despite its cultural richness, Kusupur village has not been included in the Heritage Village of Great Sons scheme. This omission has caused widespread dissatisfaction among the local population, who view it as disrespect to Mahanga’s culture, heritage, and contributions of its great personalities.
In response, youth leaders and the head of Mahanga, Sek Masud Alli, have launched a signature campaign from Kusupur village demanding immediate inclusion of Kusupur in the list of Heritage Villages. Key participants in this campaign include Sitanath Nayak, Chinmay Jena, Sukumar Samal, Prasanna Barma, Gagan Sethi, Jhari Sahu, and Manoranjan Majhi from Kusupur village.
Other prominent members of Mahanga who participated include lawyer Deepak Kumar Mahanti, Pandit Prabhat Kar, Sangram Samal, Saukat Alli, Sukanta Nanda, Manas Das, Rabinarayan Sahu, Sek Jabir, Sek Ajju Alli, and Hadibandhu Sahu.
The campaign emphasizes the need to give proper recognition to the distinguished sons of Kusupur. A strong demand has been made to the Chief Minister of Odisha, the Minister of Culture, the Chief Secretary, and the Secretary of Culture to officially include Kusupur village in the Heritage Village of Great Sons scheme.
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