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Of Pen, Patriotism and Odia Pride
“The purpose of a writer is to keep civilisation from destroying itself,” wrote French philosopher and author Albert Camus. True to his words, writers just don’t give words to our emotions;they carry forth the soul of a civilization—They pen their fascinating experiencesas well as the great social and cultural churnings of their times, leaving a record for future generations to admire the glorious days of yore.
And so it was with Odia literary stalwarts, who led a revival of our once moribund mother tongue and raised the stature of Odia literature with their soul-stirring writings. This was particularly true during the freedom movement, when the country saw a spurt in nationalist prose, poems and essays in every regional language. But in Odisha, these writings initiated a new literary era, popularly known as the ‘Satyabadi Age’. Imbibed with the spirit of ‘Odia BhasaAndolana’ at that time, Odia literature stands richer in nationalist writings than many other contemporary literatures.
The Awakening
“In Odisha, the Renaissance period started after Na’anka Durvikshya (the Orissa famine of 1866). Like the enormity of the Black Death (plague)in Europe, the famine killed nearly one-third of the population at that time. People died of starvation, compounded bycholera and malaria. The scale of the tragedy triggered a mass awakening and literary developments as well,” informs NK Mohapatra, senior lecturer of Indian history and anthropology.
“The first Odia magazine,‘Bodha Dayini’, was published in 1861 from Balasore. On 4 August 1866, Gouri Shankar Ray and Bichitrananda Das started ‘Utkala Deepika’, popularly considered as the first Odia newspaper. It started as a weekly newspaper and focused on the socio-cultural and political problems of Odia-speaking people. Byasa Kabi Fakir Mohan Senapati was the founder editor of ‘Sambada Bahika’. Baikunthanath Dev published ‘Utkala Darpana’. ‘Sambalpur Hiteisini’ published by Nilamani Bidyaratna from Bamanda played an important role in rousing the feelings of people in western Odisha. These publications gave a platform for the writers to express themselves as well as set the stage for future patriotic trend in Odia language,” he adds.
Intellectual Rebels
Pandit Gopabandhu Das once remarked: “Language is at the root of thought and civilisation.” Indeed, literature acts as a catalystin every great revolution. The intellectual impetus provided by Voltaire, Montesquieu and Rousseau led to the French revolution. In Odisha, the writers and poets of early 19th centurylike Radhanath Ray (‘Sarbeshan No Janani Bharat’) and Gangadhar Meher (‘Bharati Rodan’ and ‘Utkala Bharati Nka Nibedana’) initiated a patriotic fervour in Odia language.
The writers of Satyabadi Age took it to a whole new level.Inspired by the Swaraj and Swadeshi movements, these intellectual rebels scripted a new age of idealism and patriotism in Odia society and literature with the mighty outpourings of their pens.
Here, we profile some of theseimmortal sons of the soil and their unsurpassed literary contributions.
Gopabandhu Das (1877–1928)
Revered as Utkalamani,Pandit Gopabandhu Das was a selfless social reformer, skilled lawyer, charismatic political leader and influential writer, But it was his newspapers—‘Samaj’ and ‘Satyabadi’—that made himimmortal. One of the most ideal leaders of the freedom movement, he remained a staunch supporter of Mahatma Gandhi till the very last. It is said that the simplicity of Mahatma Gandhi was essentially influenced by Gopabandhu.
As an educationist,Gopabandhu realised that schools were the best place to inspire young minds to become resourceful citizens of the future. His brain child Satyabadi Bana Bidyalaya (nicknamed as the Nalanda of Odisha) was the first open air school in the state. Founded in 1909, this one-of-a-kind school surrounded by a Chhuriana grove had some of the best teachers of that age in the likes of Krupasindhu Mishra, Pandit Nilakantha Das, Godabarish Mishra and Acharya Harihar Das along with Gopabandhu.
Famously known as ‘Panchasakha’,these five friendswere the pioneers of the Satyabadi Age. Their prose, poems and essays focused on contemporary socio-political problems and national aspirations. Their writings were practical and simple yet fiery and lively.
Gopabandhu took to journalism to boostsocial and political reformsas well as to revive the moribund Odia language. He was the editor of ‘Asha'(1913–1919), a newspaper published from Berhampur. He started Satyabadi as a literary monthly magazine in 1915. Samaj was started as a weekly newspaper on 10 October 1919 (Vijaya Dashami). Acharya Harihar Das and Nilakantha Das helped him in this endeavour.
Gopabandhu boldly exposed the wrongdoings of the then British government through his newspapers, earning him a two-year prison term in Hazaribagh (1922–1924).
In the course of his presidential address to Utkal Sammilani, he declared, “The destruction of Odia language will mean the destruction of Odia nationalism.” In his famous book ‘Bandira Atmakatha’ he wrote
“Misu mora deha ae desha matire
Desha bashi chali Ja’antu Pithire
Deshara Swarajya Pathe jete Gada
Puru tanhi padi mora mansha hada”
[Let my body mingle in the dust of my motherland and let my countrymen walk on it; let my flesh and blood fill in the potholes of my country’s self-independence]
This famous poem was written during his imprisonment,when he also composed ‘Dharmapada’, a historic poem. His‘Kara Kabita’ and ‘AbakasaChinta’ give insights into Gopabandhu’s political ideology and thoughts. Another of his popular poems,‘Rela Uparu Chilika Darshana’, beautifully captures the other-worldly charm of Lake Chilika. Before his death in 1928,‘Samaj’ was handed over to Lok-Sebak Mandal (Servants of People Society); a non-profit organisation founded by Lala Lajpat Rai. Since 1930, Samaj has been published as a daily newspaper.
Madhusudan Das (1848–1934)
Utkal Gouraba (Pride of Utkal) Madhusudan Das was fondly known as ‘Madhu Babu’ or ‘Madhu Barrister’ in Odisha. His sharp wit in court made him a hero in children’s fables. He was the first Odia graduate, lawyer and the first to sail overseas. He was also the firstOdia to become a member of the Legislative Council and the Central Legislative Assembly. Shocked by the serious situation of Odia language and the state itself, he dedicated his life towards the social, economic and political uplift of both. As the founder of Utkala Sammilani, his contribution to the cause of united Odisha is beyond description. He was deeply involved in the freedom struggle and almost all his literary works are enriched with the spirit of patriotism, with ‘Utkala Santana’, ‘Jati Itihasa’ and ‘Janani Ra Ukti’ being some of the notable ones.
“Jati Nandighosha Chaliba ki Bhai Swartha ku Sarathi kale?
Tane kire Gadi Danara Tobada Ghoda Munhe Bandha Thile?”
[Can the chariot of the nation’s massesmove forward with selfishness as charioteer? Can a horse pull a cart with food fodder in its mouth?]
In ‘Utkala Santana’, he wrote:
“Uthare Uthare Utkala Santana Uthibu tu aau Ketedine?
Puruba Sahasa Puruba Gouraba padunahi kire Tora Mane?”
[“Wake up O successor of Utkala, when are you going to wake up?
Can’t you remember your precedent courage, your glorious past?”]
Nilakantha Das (1884–1967)
Nilakantha Das started his career as a teacher at Satyabadi school.His literary career started in 1907 with an essay on Chandra Sekhara Singh Samanta, which was published in ‘Utkala Sahitya’. In a career spanning nearly half a century,he was credited with publishing a large number of books and articles on various topics. He is considered the earliest linguistic expert of Odia language.
In ‘Odia Sahityara Itihaas’, Natabar Samantray notes: “Nilakantha’s periodic writings and editorial comments in his daily ‘Naba Bharat’ was intended to develop a patriotic spirit among the featureless and futureless Odias. As a literary paper, ‘Naba Bharat’ has no substitute yet.”
Later on, Nilakanthaalso edited ‘Seva’, ‘Lokmata’and ‘Samaj’. In 1955, Utkal University conferred on him a D.Litt.degree.In 1957,he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, and received the Orissa Sahitya Academy award in 1958.
Laxmikanta Mohapatra (1888–1953)
The writer of ‘Bande-Utkala-Janani’, Laxmikanta Mohapatra is popularly known as ‘Kantakabi’. This awe-inspiring song is a perfect combination of lyrics, melody and meaning, its lofty and sober approach fills the heart with a serene beauty, natural charm and attachment to the motherland. When it was first recited in the Bhadrak meeting of Utkala Sammilani, Pandit Gopandhuwas left mesmerised. He praised the young poet: “You have depicted the real mother Odisha to me.”
His literary works are compiled in two volumes of ‘Kanta Sahityamala’,with the last chapter of the second volume containing his 33 nationalist poems. Apart from ‘Bande Utkala Janani’, he also wrote ‘Ae Desha’, ‘Pralaya Dundubhi’, ‘Unmada’, ‘Aryabahini’,‘Jatiya Pataka’ and ‘Samara Sangeeta’.
Godabarish Mohapatra (1886–1956)
Hailing from Banapur,GodabarishMohapatrawas famous as a poet, writer, essayist, an author of stories for children and an unbiased critic. An alumni of Satyabadi Bana Bidyalaya, he was inspired by Gopabandhu Das and his literary works attest this. He is remembered for his magazine ‘Niakhunta’and his electrifying poem ‘Utha Kankala’.
“Utha Kankala, Chhidu Srunkhala, Jaga Durbala Aji
Uthu gata Gouraba, Hruta grouraba, Mruta gouraba Raji.”
[“Arise O’Skeleton, break your stillness, break away from your weakness
Claim back your past pride, your lost pride, your dead pride of yore”]
‘Niakhunta’ was a magazine full of vicious criticism, funny cartoons and worked audaciously to expose corruption. It was a widely circulated and much adored magazine in Odisha. He was awarded by both Sahitya academy awards of the Centre and the state. His notable works among others are ‘Banka o’ Sidha’, ‘Aebe Madhya Banchichi’, ‘Maguni Ra Sagada’, ‘Kanta O’ Phula’, ‘Nilamastrani’, ‘Gariba Ra Bhagaban’ and ‘Pahacha Talara Ghasa’.
Bira Kishore Das (1896–1973)
Born at Punanga village in Jagatsinghpur district, Jatiya Kabi Bira Kishore Das was an active freedom fighter. He is best known for his sensational patriotic poems, which intensely influenced the masses and motivated their patriotic fervour. His famous works include ‘Mohan Banshi’, ‘Dabugo Sathi’, ‘Bidrohi’, ‘Bina’ and the monthly magazine Phula Chandan. J.K.B.K. College of Cuttack is named after him.
Kuntala Kumari Sabat (1901–1938)
Utkala Bharati Kuntala Kumari Sabat was the poster girl of early Odia feminism. Fondly remembered as the Nightingale of Odisha, she spent her early childhood in Burma (present day Myanmar), from where she inherited courage and compassion. After completion of her studies at Medical School, Cuttack, she became a successful physician. However, she was passionate about literature and her involvement in nationalist movements fuelled her passion further.
Her poems are rich with descriptions of the glorious past, reflectionson heritage and culture of Odisha as well as inspiring messages to awakenthe masses. During the early days of the Non-Cooperation Movement, she wrote:
“Senapati aji dei chanti daka
Utha Bharata ra bira putra jaka
Apurba Asahayoga Ranagune
Arte Antakasi para Janejane
Bharata ra jete Bira Gunamani
Chaliasa Senapati Dakasuni”
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