BHADRAK: On this day 84 years ago, Mahatma Gandhi had visited Charbatia, a nondescript village in coastal Bhadrak district, the only place in Odisha which he visited thrice. He had convened a meeting and led the movement for Independence. Now the place where he had spent two days is dilapidated. While the house where he slept and chalked out plans against the British has been destroyed due to lack of maintenance, a tax collection centre of the British Army is in ruins. Though a few years back, a Gandhi Smruti Bhavan was built by the block authorities, this also now cries for attention. While its windows and doors have been broken, water seepage is visible in every corner.Charbatia Gandhi Smruti Committee secretary Niranjan Biswal said the villagers contribute to organise a function to mark Gandhiji’s visit to the place every year. However, the place is yet to get recognition. “The house and the tax collection centre should be renovated and a museum opened there for our future generations. Besides, the government should extend financial assistance for observance of the day like other national days,” he demanded. Biswal said Gandhiji had visited the place on December 17, 1927. Accompanied by Gopabandhu Das, Harekrushna Mahatab and Niranjan Pattanaik, he came in a boat from Pirahat to Charbatia ghat where he addressed a mammoth gathering.“From Bhadrak he walked down to reach Pirhat and then proceeded to see the flood- ravaged areas of Basudevpur tehsil. He led the movement against the British for illegal tax collection,” he reminisced.
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