Madhu Ude …1
Madhu Uder Grammar to Madhu barrister.
( Determination can overcome any obstacle. )
In 1864 Madhu babu finished his matriculation from the present Collegiate school, Cuttack. There was no scope of higher education in the 1860 Odisha. He had no money. So he did the impossible. He walked all the way to calcutta. He could not afford a cart. He took shelter in a church for free boarding and lodging. He also started giving private english tution for finance. Soon ‘Madhu Uder grammar class’ became a brand for passing matric in calcutta. Sir Ashutosh Mukheji was one of his famous student.
Model Questions was published in July 1875. It was the first of its kind for the students appearing Entrance ( degree) in Calcutta University. The book was reprinted every year and by 1884, MS Das has earned a lot from this book. He has included questions from Calcutta University, Madras University and also British Universities.
By sheer determination, he passed BA ( first Odia Graduate ) MA, Law and started legal practice in calcutta high court at a price of course. He was converted. He shifted to cuttck bar after the untimely death of his wife. (within 3 years of marriage. )
125 years back, the Cuttack bar association was dominated by bengali lawyers. He was the first Odia advocate.He was not allowed a place. His luggage was thrown out of cuttack vakil khana ! ( ie. Gandhi in south Africa. But both have dogged determination.)
Later on this man went on to be legal legend in his lifetime. Stories of Madhu Use blossoming into Madhu Barrister s not all milk or honey.
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At the peak of his career he was paid one lakh Victoria coin for his briefs of Rajah of Keonjhar vs British govt. & Rajah of Puri against British sarkar bahadur .
What a jump?
An young man who could not afford to travel by cart, who had to walk all the way by foot to calcutta was maintaining the best horse stable in cuttack and lending them to visiting british dignitaries.
In 1900, for prime ministers of England like Atlee, Ramsay Macdonald Orissa meant M S Das.
Dr Ramakanta's Ideas 