Bhubaneswar/Cuttack, April 28: Members of the Bhubaneswar Bar Association today observed 167th birth anniversary of the state's first barrister, Madhusudan Das, who is also known as the maker of modern Odisha.

They also celebrated Lawyers' Day on the premises of the district and sessions court here.

On this occasion, the bar association felicitated six of its senior-most members, including the first woman lawyer of the city and the association. Besides, on April 25, the bar had also conducted a debate competition for the students of law colleges in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack on a topic - Independence, Integrity and Dignity of the Bar and Madhusudan's Contribution. The winners were rewarded today.

Odia litterateur Dash Benhur narrated Das's life story and highlighted some important aspects of the leader, who used to always fight for the Odias and Odisha.

Justice Debabrata Dash of Orissa High Court also spoke about Das's role as a lawyer and urged the law practitioners to be motivated by his ideals and work for the people, who really need their help.

"Madhu babu was a great law practitioner, and the lawyers of this generation must learn a great deal from him," said Benhur.

Besides, the state government officials and ministers garlanded Das's statues at various places across the city to observe his birth anniversary.

Das's birth anniversary was observed in Cuttack as well where he had spent most of his life. To mark the occasion, a joint meeting by the High Court Bar Association and the All-Odisha Lawyers' Association was held in the evening at Odisha Judicial Academy.

Justice Vinod Prasad, a senior judge in the presence of other judges, paid floral tributes and garlanded Das's statue on the high court premises.

A 24-feet high sand art depicting Das's "Dream Odisha", however, took the centre stage in Cuttack. Sand sculptor Pramod Patnaik created the art. The sculpture was created to spread the message of access to justice for all. The Odia Naba Barsha Committee had patronised the sculpture on this occasion.

"Madhu babu was a great dreamer for Odisha, and our effort of coming up with the sand art has been appreciated," said committee member Prasanna Nanda.

Over 1,500 schoolchildren visited the special sand art on the great leader. Earlier, rich floral tributes were paid to him at his tombstone at Gorakabar.

Members of the Utkal Sammelani, an organisation that had fought for the creation of separate Odisha province on linguistic basis, also garlanded Das's statues on Cantonment Road.

Later, they staged a demonstration near the district collector's office, demanding use of Odia language at government offices.