Unsung Heroes Detail

Gurucharan Rautray was born in the village Chadheisuan of Mahakalpara block of Kendrapara district in 1905. His father was Jogi Rautray who expected his son to become a government servant after matriculation. But when he was studying in High School Gurucharan became interested in the freedom struggle. The clarion call of Mahatma Gandhi urged him to join the non-cooperation movement by leaving his school and getting involved in various constructive programs of Congress. He moved from village to village to appeal to the people to boycott foreign cloth and to cut across caste lines. He joined Quit India Movement in 1942 and was sentenced to six months of rigorous imprisonment. When he was in Berhampur jail he was beaten severely by the police in which his right knee was damaged permanently. After his release, he was placed under house arrest for a year.

After independence as a member of the local district board, he was instrumental in bringing out many developments in his areas. He died on 19 December 1993.