I can’t sleep if I don’t read.Maa Saraswati is extremely kind towards me. The society look at me as a daily wager,but the learned people nowadays recognise me as a historian.
Khurda:Shankar Sahoo born in 5th April 1970 at Anda Banamalipur of district Khurda to parents Late Bhramarabara Sahoo and Mother Rangabati Sahoo was always interested in reading history books from his childhood,especially the Gadajat history. Due to lack of money he couldn’t study beyond class 9,but his interest took him to the path of books. One day he found ANWESANA a book on various forts of Odisha in 2010.After reading the Book he fell in love with History of Odisha and soon he started going to various Publishers to collect more books.
As a daily wager he work for seven hours a day and earn around 350 Rupees a day.However, his work pattern couldn’t stop his love for books. He use to hide money from his family he got addicted to alcohol, but soon he realised his folly and left the addiction and started buying different History books on diverse forts. One day his daughter Mansi questioned him’ Father why are you buying old torned books? In reply Sahoo said,’ If Maa Saraswati is coming to our Home then where is the problem. In today’s time he owns around 2500 books of history which he keeps in different Bags as he can’t afford Almirah or book case. In order to safeguard books he constantly looks after them and preserves it with lot of care.His penchant for Books earned him rare reviews and he was feted with 15 Certificates from all over Odisha. In the year 2017 when Bankoi Bolagada Sahitya Sansada invited him to get an award he was speechless.He was very scared as he witnessed so many learned teachers,educationist who denied him an entry. However, Satyabadi Baliarsingh a renowned Historian from Khurda received him with Honour and later he was feted in the award function.
The learned people were feeling that who is this daily wager with torn clothes who have come here for an award? On the stage he was termed as BanaMalli of Khurda and He was feted with Prativa Sanmann. In his broken home where there are holes everywhere Sahoo is hell bent on keeping his books safe and he instructs his children that nobody should try to demolish the mud house.
His list of Prizes-
1-Akshay Mohanty Foundation have feted him with Paika Sanmaan in Khurda 2017,
2-Ghumusar Sahitya Sansada feted him with Banamalli Prize 2017,
3- Kabiraj Chintamani Bidyapitha Tapanga has feted him with Gabeshaka of the year in 2018,
4- Prakruti Bandhu Sanmaan by Aashirwad Parivar in 2018,
5-BhootNath Sahitya Sansad Banki also feted him with Certificate of Excellence in 2017.
He has written a book of History 1827 Tapanga Revolution which is under publication by Taratarini Bookstore BaluBazaar Cuttack. He has also written a two volume of poetry named Tapanga Dalbehera’s MundaBali which is already published. His greatest regret is that he couldn’t study as his father was a daily wager who use to get four rupees as wage. Besides, his main concern is that who will look after his books after him. Interacting with Orissa Post he said,’ One day I will open a Public Library for the Kids of my village and they will read and will come to know about the rich historical past of Odisha. I am a fan of History Books and I will leave Rupees 10 Lakhs in exchange of good history books.
His wife Ranjulata Sahoo said, ‘ after all the pains he has suffered his love for Books made me to respect and Love him more every day.’
Gopal Krushna Das a renowned Historian and collector of Paika Bidroha products of Khurda said, ‘ Today’s modern men have Bank balance and all kinds of luxury, but they lack the wealth of books.In comparision to them a daily wager like Shankar Sahoo is pretty rich with with his extraordinary history book collection and its an example for other to follow.People like sahoo are the true gems of the society and his hardwork to write literature is a matter of great pride for all of us.
Chaitali Shome,OP