Bhubaneswar, Dec. 29 -- union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday called for developing Kudopali in Odisha's Sambalpur district into a major cultural heritage and pilgrimage site, highlighting its immense historical significance in India's freedom struggle.
Pradhan was participating in the Veer Chhabil Sai Memorial Padayatra at Kudopali, one of the sacred sites associated with the 1857 freedom movement.
During the event, he paid heartfelt tributes to Veer Chhabil Sai, the brother of legendary freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai, as well as to the 57 immortal martyrs who laid down their lives for the nation.
The union minister recalled that on December 30, 1857, 53 freedom fighters were martyred on the battlefield of Kudopal...