India attained freedom on the 15th, August 1947. It was a happy event that as early as on the 14th and 15th Dec’ 1947 the rulers of all the Orissa States signed the merger agreement at Cuttack with the Government of India and accordingly on the 1st. January 1948 the Orissa Government as an agent of the Government of India took over charge of the administration of all the Orissa States. It was on this memorial day that the Hon’ble Sree Harekruson Mahatab the Premier of Orissa made a significant declaration that the Orissa Government will look to the moral material and intellectual progress of the backward areas in the States.
