Archive · 22 Aug 2026
Odisha Plans Heritage Village at Swami Laxmanananda’s Birthplace
Odisha held a ceremony to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the Swami’s birthplace, Gurjang, will become a Heritage Village.
The village panchayat will also be developed as a Model Panchayat.
The Swami was killed in 2008 along with four disciples at Jalespata Ashram.
Majhi criticized the earlier Biju Janata Dal government over its handling of the killing.
He alleged that files from two investigation commissions disappeared from a government building.
The government renamed a medical college after the Swami.
It also approved money for an ashram, schools, a girls’ hostel and heritage conservation.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that Gurjang village in Angul district will become a Heritage Village.
The Gurjang panchayat will be developed as a Model Panchayat, he said at the Swami’s birth-centenary event.
Majhi accused the previous Biju Janata Dal government of negligence and appeasement politics over the 2008 killing.
He alleged that files and reports from two murder-investigation commissions disappeared from Lok Seva Bhavan to protect those responsible.
The government renamed Phulbani Government Medical College and sanctioned ₹13 crore for Jalespata Ashram and related heritage projects.
- Who
- Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced the measures while honoring Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati; BJP leaders Surama Padhy and Dharmendra Pradhan also attended.
- What
- Gurjang will be developed as a Heritage Village and its panchayat as a Model Panchayat, alongside a medical-college renaming and ₹13 crore in project funding.
- When
- The announcements were made on Friday at an event marking the Swami’s birth centenary.
- Where
- The event was held at Gurjang in the Talcher area of Angul district, Odisha; the related heritage work includes Jalespata Ashram in Kandhamal.
- Why
- The measures were presented as a way to honor the Swami’s service, sacrifice and legacy.
- Heritage Village
- Gurjang, identified as Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati’s birthplace, will be developed as a Heritage Village.
- Model Panchayat
- The Gurjang panchayat will be developed as a Model Panchayat.
- 2008 killing
- Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four disciples were killed at Jalespata Ashram on August 23, 2008.
- Investigation files
- Majhi alleged that reports and files from the Justice S.C. Mohapatra and Justice A.S. Naidu commissions disappeared from Lok Seva Bhavan.
- Renamed college
- Phulbani Government Medical College will be renamed Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Medical College.
- Government funding
- ₹13 crore was sanctioned from the Chief Minister’s Special Assistance fund for Jalespata Ashram, Ashram School and Kanyashram.
- Girls’ hostel and conservation
- ₹5 crore is earmarked for a 300-seat girls’ hostel and ₹3 crore for heritage-site conservation.
