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Swami Laxmananda Saraswati remembered

Swami Laxmananda Saraswati was paid tribute on his seventh death anniversary all over Odisha. The day was observed as ‘Dharma Rakshya Diwas’ and various programmes were conducted to recall the dedicated life and work of the great saint for uplift of the Vanvasis. Special yajnas and public meetings were organised at Jalespeta Ashram in Kandhmal District where the seer was killed and at the Chakapada Ashram. A Smriti Sabha was also organised by Swami Laxmananda Smriti Nyas in the State capital Bhubaneshwar.
At Smriti Sabha, various speakers targeted the State government for not arresting the real culprits and conspirators. They demanded arrest of the culprits at the earliest. “Seven years have passed since the murder of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati, Bhaktimmayee Mata and three others at Jaleshpata Kanyashram in Kandhamal on Janmashtami. But the Crime Branch of the State Government has failed to solve the case and nab the killers and conspirators. Killers and conspirators should be booked immediately,” the speakers said.
Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, Chief Guest at the programme, recalled Swamiji’s seva work and termed him as Brahmagyani. “Swami Laxmananda was not a simple saint. He didn’t stayed in a Mutt. He used to live among the downtrodden and neglected people of the society. During his more than four decades Sadhna in interior areas of Kandhmal he empowered the tribal people through education and other economic, cultural and spiritual activities” , Swami Brahmananda Saraswati said.
Speaking in the occasion Dr Laxmikanta Dash said, “Swami Laxmananda Saraswati dedicated his entire life for the empowerment of tribal people. The people who were exploiting them and who were opposed to empowerment of the tribal killed Swami Laxmananda Saraswati. Instead of arresting the culprits, State government is trying to protect the murderers and conspirators, which is quite unfortunate.”
Presiding over the function Mansukhlal Sethia said we should draw inspiration from his life. Sarbeswar Mishra, editor of an Odiya daily and Dr Bimalendu Mohanty, former Vice Chancellor of Utkal University of Culture also spoke on the occasion.      — Samanvya Nanda