Bhubaneswar, April 30: The state government is set to unveil statues of four eminent personalities of the state tomorrow, but conspicuous by its absence will be the likeness of Gyan Patnaik, mother of chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

The sons of the soil whose statues will be inaugurated are encyclopaedist and freedom fighter Binod Kanungo, sculptor Bipra Charan Mohanty, historian Krushna Chandra Panigrahi and author of the Odia Bhagabat Gita Atibadi Jagannath Das.

The culture department also plans to erect the statue of Gyan, but later. She was an ace pilot but questions have been raised over whether she had any other contribution to the state except for being the wife of late chief minister Biju Patnaik.

State culture director Sushil Kumar Das told The Telegraph that the department had commissioned her statue. “But, it can’t be unveiled tomorrow as it has not been completed. We will decide the date and venue later.”

Binod Kanungo, a freedom fighter, had set up the Jnanmandal Foundation and compiled the first Odia encyclopaedia in the 1960s. His statue will be put up at the State Archives.

Bipra Charan Mohanty, recipient of Dharmapada Puraskar — the state’s highest honour for fine arts — was an eminent sculptor. His notable works include a bronze statue of Birsa Munda installed at the Parliament House complex in New Delhi and a bronze statue on Dandi March, led by Mahatma Gandhi, which has been set up at the Sardar Patel Marg junction, also in New Delhi.

Krushna Chandra Panigrahi was an eminent historian, archaeologist and literary expert. He has authored a large number of articles and books on history and archaeology. His book — Archaeological Remains at Bhubaneswar — is considered a masterpiece and has received international recognition. His contribution to Odia literature has been recognised by the Odisha Sahitya Academy several times.

Atibadi Jagannath Das, a 15th century poet, is a household name for his work — Srimad Bhagabat Gita.

The poet was one of the “Pancha Sakhas” (five writers) who pioneered the Bhakti movement in the state. Shri Chaitanya, a devotee of Lord Jagannath, had conferred upon him the title of “Atibadi”.

An official press note from the culture department said Kanungo’s statue would be installed on the premises of the State Archives and Mohanty’s image in front of Government Hospital in Unit-IV.

Panigrahi’s likeness will be put up in front of the State Museum, while Jagannath Das’s statue will be unveiled on the premises of Bhanja Kala Mandap, a government-run auditorium.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik will stay away from the statue inauguration functions tomorrow. Tourism and culture minister Maheswar Mohanty and urban development minister Debi Prasad Mishra will unveil the statues.