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list of mla of odisha
Sashikanta Bhanja Ex M.L.A of Odisha from Bhograi Assembly Constituency

Mr Sashikanta Bhanja was born in a small village, Sarbani near Chandeneshwar in Balasore district of Odisha. He hailed from a middle class family who were famous for exporting Radish seeds mostly to Java and Sumatra on sea route. Those were the days when there were no communication in between Batagram and Jaleshawar from where he had to board a train to reach Cuttak for his graduation from Ravensaw college. He completed his matriculation from Balasore Zilla school, which is presently Fakir Mohan college campus in Balasore district. He got a Gold medal in english essay writing competition among class 9 students across 3 states viz. Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar,Because in those days Matriculation board was at Patna, the capital of Bihar.

He was financially not so strong that's why he used to teach english as private tutor,to both the daughters of the then police IG, Odisha who was a Britisher. One can well imagine his command in english by virtue of which a British high rank official chose him for teaching both of his daughters as a private tutor and it very well proves his character and integrity.

After completion of his graduation from Ravensaw college he joined law graduation course at Madhu Sudhan law college, Cuttack. Another Gold medal was being added to his basket for being the Best Graduate in law from M.S.Law college, Cuttack. Then he returned to his home place Bhograi constituency and joined as an assistant headmaster in Kamarda high school, but he could not continue for a very long time as on one fine morning in the managing committee meeting just out of kidding one member blamed that Mr. shashi Bhanja was no more devoting his time for the betterment of students and that day was his last day of his job. He promised in that managing committee meeting itself that let the school pay him his dues and before the next day Sunrise he would leave the job. And from that day he did no more job anywhere in his life time.

Again he returned to his service of serving the needy and the poor in Bhograi constituency. During his student career at Ravensaw college and M.S.law college he was always in the forefront in freedom movement. Even there are evidences of written letter correspondence with eminent freedom fighters of India, like Thakkar Bappa and many more. By that time he was an icon in the freedom fight movement. Our country got independence on 15th august 1947 but in the year 1952 there was first assembly polls in India across all states. Though he was a congress flag bearer since his youth, congress party denied him a ticket for 1952 assembly elections. He took it as a challenge and contested from Bhograi constituency as an independent candidate and to everybody's utter surprise he own the election with a very high margin and became the first MLA from Bhograi constituency.The then Chief Minister of Odisha Mr Harekrushna Mahatab later on inducted him into congress party again.As an MLA he was contemporary of Pandit Nilakantha Das and many such eminent personalities of Odisha. After his successful career as MLA he came back and joined Bar council at Balasore and was all through a successful Lawyer and sought after advocate in those days as he was a man of compassion for the poor.In early 60's he became Chairman of Balasore Zila Parishad. In the year 1980 since he was an eminent lawyer in Odisha,the then Chief Minister Smt Nadini Satpathy appointed him as Chief Public Prosecutor of a case against Asia's biggest Gang of robbers and dacoits spread across Bihar,Bengal and Odisha.He was associated with so many religious institutions, he established Balasore law college and was the first president of that Law college and was also a member of Utkal university Senate too. In the year 1990 he passed away at his home town Balasore leaving behind his wife, four daughters and two sons.