The role of patriotic literature in inciting zeal and urging civil society to actively participate in the struggle against colonial rule was decisive and poets played no mean a part in giving violent nationalistic sentiments free expression, writes Rashmi Rekha Das
The role of poets and writers who produced creative works that inspired nationalistic zeal and patriotism among the masses was immense. Instead of inhabiting the ivory tower of literary imagination, writers with great powers of imagination and literary talent chose to dedicate their work for the freedom of the motherland. In the process they had to accept hardships including jail terms. Oriya poets played an important role in the freedom struggle and gave shape and content to revolutionary visions.
Poets like Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das, Vyasa Kabi Fakir Mohan Senapati, Prakruti Kabi Gangadhar Meher, Utkal Gourab Madhusudan Das, Kabibara Radhanath Ray, Nilakantha Das, Godabarisha Mishra, Kantakabi Lakshmikanta Mohapatra and Jnapith award winner Sachi Routray immortalised the struggle in monumental works of literature. They are no more today but their words still throb in our ears – they have become part of the collective memory of the race. When the flag of independent India flutters in celebration and triumph our thoughts turn to the poets of freedom in tribute, gratitude and pride. These leaders of resurgent Orissa also played a pivotal role in giving shape to the most arduous task of unifying a dismembered Orissa. Sunday POST takes a look at some of the famous literary works belonging to the nationalistic pantheon.
UTKALMANI GOPABANDHU DAS
Mishu Mora Deha E Desha Matire
Deshabasi Chalijantu Mo Pithire,
Desha Ra Swarajya Pathe Jete Gada
Puru Tahin Padi Mora Mansa Hada
These immortal lines from Bandira Atmakatha written by Gopabandhu Das reflect not only the poet’s eternal love for his motherland, but also urge us to dedicate ourselves to the noble cause of national freedom. When Gopabandhu was in Hazaribagh jail between 1922 and 1924, he wrote the novel Bandira Atmakatha and the lines translated mean “Let my body mingle in the dust of my motherland and let my countrymen walk on it; let my flesh and bones fill in the potholes of my country’s self-independence”. Such was the commitment of Gopabandhu, a nationalistic warrior by heart. He is remembered for his patriotic lyrical poems and lucid, thought-provoking prose writings. His poems and novels encourage the younger generation to fight for national integration. He once said, “Pachha Ghuncha Nahin Veerara Jatake, Na Mare Se Kebe Parana Atanke” meaning a ‘yodha’ or fighter never flees, nor fears death.
Born October 9, 1877 at Suando village in Puri district, Gopabandhu is popularly known as Utkalmani or the Jewel of Orissa. He is well known as a litterateur, journalist, philosopher, social reformer and political leader. In the struggle for independence, he spearheaded movements like Asahyog Andolan under the leadership of Gandhiji. While wayfaring on foot with Gopabandhu itself in Puri district, Gandhiji took the vow of wearing just one loincloth to cover his body.
As an educationist, Gopabandhu realised that without education people would never become conscious of the need for freedom and their duty towards the nation. In this regard he was greatly influenced by the works of Deccan Education Society under the leadership of Gopal Krishna Gokhale. As a result, a school was established at Satyabadi in the district of Puri.
He once went to provide relief material to the flood-affected when his son was taken seriously ill. It astonished everyone when he said, “There are so many to look after my son. What more can I do? There are many people crying for help in the flood-affected areas and it is my duty to go there. Lord Jagannath is there to take care of my son.” By the time he returned, his son had died.
Some of his literary works like ‘Ma Ra Kabita’, ‘Kara Kabita’, ‘Dharmapada’ and Bandira Atmakatha are testimony to his skills as a great poet. He was certainly a true son of the country.
UTKAL GOURAB MADHUSUDAN DAS
Born on April 28, 1848 at Satyabhamapur in Cuttack district, Madhusudan Das, also known as Madhu Barrister, was deeply moved and shocked to see the discrimination against Oriyas by the colonial administration. He was convinced that the miserable plight of the Oriyas was only due to the apathetic and indifferent attitude of the administration. As a writer and poet, almost all his works are patriotic in spirit. He penned a number of articles and poems in both English and Oriya. Some of the most memorable of which are Utkal Santan, Jati Itihash and Jananira Ukti. For his immense contributions to the freedom movement, he was honoured as a great Indian patriot.
In 1870, Das became the first Oriya to complete BA. In 1873 he worked his way to higher education and passed MA and BL examinations from Calcutta University. He worked untiringly for the political, social and economic uplift of the people of Orissa, and rendered commendable service to the nation as a lawyer, social reformer and patriot. To arouse the sense of patriotism in the hearts of millions, he contributed a number of articles too. He was also a powerful speaker in Oriya, English and Bengali. Madhu Babu was the founder of Utkal Sammilani, an Oriya movement and a pioneering endeavour in the field of industrial development. Das was the first Oriya to become a member of the Legislative Council and a member of the Central Legislative Assembly. He was the first Oriya to sail overseas. Mahatma Gandhi described him as a great Indian patriot who wore himself out in giving shape and reality to various nation-building schemes.
KANTAKABI LAKSHMIKANTA MOHAPATRA
Kantakabi Lakshmikanta Mohapatra was a leading freedom fighter and a great nationalist poet of rare caliber. His immortal patriotic songs were a perennial source of inspiration for the people of Orissa during the movement for a separate state and the freedom struggle. Lakshmikanta, popularly known as ‘Kantakabi’ in the state, occupies a unique place in the socio-political, cultural life of Orissa. He made significant contributions to Oriya literature at a time when the very existence of the language was under threat due to the conspiracies hatched by the neighbouring states. Kantakabi contributed to Oriya literature during this crucial phase. His composition ‘Bande Utkala Janani’ was adopted as the welcome song at the Balasore session of the Utkal Sammilani. The distinguished guests on that session, Utkalamani Gopabandhu Das and Utkala Gourab Madhusudan Das, praised the young poet highly for writing such a powerful patriotic song. ‘Bande Utkala Janani’ and other popular patriotic songs like ‘Koti Koti Kanthe Aji’ and ‘Udaee Nishana Bajai Bheri’ stirred the souls of millions of Oriyas. A multi-faceted personality, Kantakabi dabbled in almost all genres of literature and achieved excellence of the highest order in each of them, which is a rarity. But the one piece of writing that has immortalised him is ‘Bande Utkala Janani’, which has attained the status of the state song of Orissa. Kantakabi’s family also actively participated in the freedom movement. His sister Kokila Devi, brothers Sitakanta and Kamalakanta, two sons Nityananda and Gour Chandra all participated in different phases of the freedom struggle and courted arrest time and time again. Born to Radhamani Devi and Choudhury Bhagabat Prasad Samantaray December 9, 1888 at Dhuanpatria lane of Cuttack city, Kantakabi breathed his last February 24, 1953.
GANGADHAR MEHER
Gangadhar Meher, renowned Oriya poet of the 19th century is also popularly known as ‘Swabhab Kabi’ was a literary giant who transformed everything into gold by the alchemic touch of his genius. He was a poet of delicate charm. Almost all his writings reflect glimpses of originality apart from patriotism. Some of his best literary works are Pranaya Ballari, Kichaka Badha, Indumati, Utkal Lakshmi, Ayodhya Drushya, Kabita Kallola, Arghya Thali, Ahalya Staba, Mahima, Bharati Bhabana and Bhakti Upahar.
When the Oriya language was on the deathbed, Meher was the stalwart who had the courage to herald a renaissance in language and literature. Joining the movement spearheaded by the likes of Fakir Mohan Senapati, Radhanath Ray, Madhusudan Das and others to defeat the British conspiracy to annihilate Oriya identity in the late 19th century, Meher’s blazing passion to reinstate the glory of his language and culture can be best summed up in his own famous quote “Matrubhoomi Matrubhasha Ra Mamata Jaa Hrude janami nahin, taku jadi gyani ganare ganiba agyana rahibe kahin” meaning those who do not respect and love their own mother tongue should not be considered learned and wise.
Hailed for his majestic portrayal of nature, Meher’s genius is best brought out in his poems ‘Amruta Sagar Bindu’, ‘Basanta Bijay Barata’, ‘Bishwa Dekha Madhumaya’ and ‘Mangale Aila Usha’. However, Tapaswini remains his masterpiece.
FAKIR MOHAN SENAPATI
Byasa Kabi Fakir Mohan Senapati can, in the truest sense, be dubbed as the renaissance man of Oriya literature. Apart from fighting against various odds to save the Oriya language from extinction, he took an active role in the freedom movement. Even though he had no formal education, he proved to be an enlightened teacher, painter and a great administrator and freedom fighter.
While his three novels Chhamana Atha Guntha, Mamu and Prayaschita explore the realities of social life in its multiple dimensions, Lachhma is a historical romance dealing with the anarchical condition of Orissa in the wake of the Maratha invasions during the 18th century. He has written quite a few memorable short stories like ‘Rebati’, ‘Patent Medicine’ and ‘Randipua Ananta’. Fakir Mohan is also the writer of the first autobiography in Oriya Atma Jeevan Charita. Fakir Mohan’s first original poem ‘Utkala Bhramanam’ (Tours of Orissa) appeared in 1892. It is not really a travel book but rather an unusual and humorous survey of the contemporary personalities prominent in the then public life of Orissa.
NILAKANTHA DAS
Nilakntha Das spurned an offer of a lucrative job by the British government and preferred to serve as the headmaster of Satyabadi High School after completion of MA in Philosophy from Calcutta University. He was a rare amalgam of a writer, editor, speaker and author. As a distinguished freedom fighter and a revolutionary, he inspired the youth to fight against untouchability and other social evils.
SACHIDANANDA ROUTRAY
Nuhen Bandhu, Nuhen Eha Chita,
E desha timira Tale E Alibha Mukati Salita
(It is not a pyre, O Friends! When the country is in dark despair, it is the light of our liberty. It is our freedom-fire.)
The stanza quoted above is the first stanza of Sachi Rautray’s famous poem ‘Baji Rout’. Routray was born at Gurujang in Khurda May 13, 1916. When he was a school kid he was drawn into the vortex of the freedom struggle. So revolutionary were his poems that some of them were banned by the British. Sachi made debuted in writing at the early age of 11.
In some of his poems like ‘Abhiyan’ (Expedition), ‘Raktasikha’ (Flames of Blood) and ‘Pallisree’ (The Rural Beauty) he has protested against exploitation of various kinds. Many of his poems are clarion call to the struggling masses to come out of the cage of servitude. The poor farmer, the wage earner, the mazdoor and the helpless man of the town all are Routray’s characters.
According to eminent poet Surya Mishra the role of litterateurs was no doubt significant in the freedom struggle. Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das’ literary works like Bandira Atmakatha and Kara Kabita speak of his deep love for the nation.
Jatiya Kabi Bira Kishore is still remembered for his patriotic writings. For example: Kaha Keon Jati Paichhi Mukati Kari Huri Hari Guhari. The poet’s contribution to the freedom movement was by the way of engaging people and urging them to actively participate in the struggle. The writings of these litterateurs urged the people to come forward and shout slogans and sing patriotic songs in unison.
Kuntala Kumari Sabat is a women writer who carved a niche with her literary sensibility. She once said, “Aji Ek Kanthe Maa Boli Daka He”. Besides, there were writers like Manmohan Mishra, Banchhanidhi Mishra, Nandakishore Bal wrote on the freedom movement.
