Legendary Poets of Odisha

The culture of Odisha is characterized by its rich heritage of classical arts, temple architecture, traditional music, and devotion. Its tapestry of history is woven by a number of unsung cultural heroes resulting in a diverse and vibrant artistic tradition.

Santha Kabi Bhima Bhoi:-

Santha Kabi Bhima Bhoi is a unique genius and spiritual poet born in the 19th Century (1850). The legend about him is so complex and mysterious that it is still not possible to say anything about him with certainty. As a result, the poet’s date of birth, date of death, birthplace, field of worship, and life – everything is shrouded in mystery. Bhima Bhoi was employed as a cowherd in the house of Chaitanya Pradhan of Kakanpada. One day, while herding the cows, he fell into an abandoned well near Kandhara village. He refused to take help from anybody other than the one who had thrown him into the well. Eventually, Mahima Gosain appeared at the site and served a condition that he would pick him up if he agreed to propagate his thoughts. He also blessed him with the power to write poetry.

Bhima Bhoi was a great tribal saint poet, philosopher, social reformer, and a revolutionary par excellence, the founder of the modern cult named Satya Mahima Dharma. Towards the end of the 19th century, Saint Bhima Bhoi saved the downtrodden people from accepting Christianity. He gave a new dimension to the Hindu religion by creating the Satya Mahima Cult with substantive principles of Sanatan Dharma. It was based on the principles of non-attachment and renunciation. Under his able leadership, the cult spread like wildfire in the whole of Odisha and nearby states like Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and other parts of India.

He is a literary genius who has to his credit thousands of verses both in Odia (Kosali) and Bengali. Some of those are published in book form and some are still unpublished. His important works include Brahma Nirupana Gita, Stuti Chintamani, Astaka Bihari Gita, Chautisa Madhu Chakra, and Bhajanamala. “Granthavali” published in his name, which is rated as a marvelous work of literary excellence of international repute.

His famous verse “Praninka arata, dukha apramita dekhu dekhu keba sahu, mo jibana pachhe narke padithau, jagata udhhara heu” has found a place on the walls of the United Nations and the Indian Parliament.

Bhima Bhoi and Maa Annapurna are worshipped by their devotees as God and Goddess whose Paduka Temple is enshrined in the premises of Khaliapali Samadhi Pitha. He was a young yogi and his yoga was effective par excellence. Bhima Bhoi breathed his last in Khaliapali on Shiva Chaturdasi in 1895, where his Samadhi temple is located.

Swabhaba Kavi Gangadhar Meher

Gangadhar Meher was born on 9th August 1862 on Sravana Purnima at Barapalli, of present-day Bargarh District of Odisha. He was born in a weaver family and educated up to 8th class. His father Chaitanya Meher was working as a village Vaidya (Ayurvedic doctor) besides his family profession of weaving. At the age of 10, he got married to Shanta Devi.

Despite his little education, he had read a good number of books like Raguvamsham in Sanskrit, Tulasi Ramayana in Awadhi, etc., and mastered them. He was also able to read Bengali magazines and newspapers. Due to the pecuniary condition of his family, Gangadhar Meher used to go to school in the morning and helped his father in weaving in the afternoon. His clear and beautiful handwriting also garnered attention from many people willing to get their writings transcribed by him.

The then Zamindar of Barapalli offered him the post of an Amin (Patwari). Coming to learn of the amicable behavior and good virtues of Gangadhar, the Zamindar promoted him to the post of a Moharir. He continued to serve in the said post and was transferred to Sambalpur, Bijepur, and Padmapur, and at last, he was transferred to his native place Barapalli on a salary of Rs. 30/- per month.

Gangadhar started composing poems from a very tender age. His first writings follow the style and technique of the ancient Odia writers. His first poetic work was ‘Rasa Ratnakara’. Then, persuaded by some friends he changed his ways and wrote poems in the modern Odia style. The works produced by Gangadhar Meher are marked by vivid imagination, beauty, and clarity of language, the novelty of style, the forceful character painting, and the lively description of nature from different perspectives.

His writings remain some of the greatest creations in Odia literature. The popularity of his literary creations is due to his narration of the beauty of nature. He was also the messenger of Upendra Bhanja’s style and ideals. Just like Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja, his poems are replete with highly ornamental words and a unique composition style, using befitting cases, similes, metaphors, and appropriate words. His poems are sonorous in the rhythm of words and languages.

His poetic creations include Pranaya Ballari, Kichaka Badh, Indumati, UtkalLaxmi, Ayodhya Drusya, Kavita Kallola, Arghya Thali, Ahalya Staba, Mahima, Bharati Bhabana, Kumara Janmotsav, Bhakti Upahar, Padmini, Kavita Mala, and Krushaka Sangita. His Prose creations include Atma Jeevani, Shri Nruparaj Singh, Purana Kavi Fakir Mohan, Swargiya Kashinath Panda, Ehaki Pruthibira Sabda, Sikshit, Ashikhsit & Sikshyabhimanini.

The great poet of Odia literature Gangadhar Meher breathed his last on 4th April 1924.

When the country enters the Amrit Kaal, honoring the life and work of our legendary poets like Bhima Bhoi and Gangadhar Meher inspires youngsters and motivates them to take pride in our rich cultural heritage.