Ramakrushna Nanda
Encyclopedia
Ramakrushna Nanda was born in small village in Orissa called Bairoi
. An exponent of children’s literature, he composed the song "Ahe Dayamaya Biswa Bihari
", which was reportedly a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi
while he was at Sabarmati ashram
. This song was included in his Oriya text book Sahitya Sopana, and went on to become the most popular song in Orissa
.
to join Revenshwa Collegiate school. There he wrote the first article of his life in his school magazine Chandrika. The struggle for independence was just starting at that time. In Orissa it was Pundit Gopobandhu who had taken the leadership. Ramakrushna was inspired by Gopabandhu and joined the freedom struggle by leaving the school and started working as a Swecha Sebaka. He stayed in Alkasrama and from that day Mahatma Gandhi
and Ramakrushna Paramhansa became his role model.
He then met Pundit Nilakantha Das, who inspired him to pursue his studies at Satybadi Jatiya Bidyalaya. There he learned Devnagiri. At an early age of nineteen he was in to his first job at a monthly salary of twenty rupees. At this age he got married to Soudamini Devi.
At that time, only English medium schools run by the British government were recognized. Therefore, Ramakrushna had to appear two matric exams, one for the Satyabadi school and another for the English medium school. To meet his expenses he started few tuitions. He enrolled for both master in arts and law. But financial problems compelled him to start working as a teacher in Banki School. He then joined Baripada School as an assistant teacher. In 1933 Orissa
witnessed one of the most devastating floods, and Ramakrushna got himself in to the rescue work. In his village Bairoi he started a social organization called Narayan Samiti.
On 13 August 1988 his wife Saudamini Devi died. Prior to his final illness he was working on the second edition of Biswa Parichaya. He died on 28 October 1994.
1994 - Biswa Parichaya (2nd Edition)
Apart from all this he was also involved in writing text books in oriya, which were used in schools for almost three decades.
Bairoi
Bairoi is the place situated 17 k.m from Phul Nakhara and 30 K.M from Cuttack and Bhubaneswar in Orissa. It is the birth place of Ramakrushna Nanda, the grandfather of Manoranjan Nanda, a writer and social worker. Bairoi has a population of 50,000 including males and females. Bairoi has an average...
. An exponent of children’s literature, he composed the song "Ahe Dayamaya Biswa Bihari
Ahe Dayamaya Biswa Bihari
Ahe Dayamaya Biswa Bihari is a poem in the Oriya language, by the Oriya writer Ramakrushna Nanda.The poem was reportedly a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi while he was at Sabarmati ashram...
", which was reportedly a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
while he was at Sabarmati ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
. This song was included in his Oriya text book Sahitya Sopana, and went on to become the most popular song in Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
.
Early life
When Nanda was fourteen his father Madhusudan Nanda died. His education began in a temporary school in Kantapada and later on came to CuttackCuttack
Cuttack is the former capital of the state of Orissa, India. It is the headquarters of Cuttack district and is located about 20 km to the north east of Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa. The name of the city is an anglicised form of Kataka that literally means The Fort, a reference to the...
to join Revenshwa Collegiate school. There he wrote the first article of his life in his school magazine Chandrika. The struggle for independence was just starting at that time. In Orissa it was Pundit Gopobandhu who had taken the leadership. Ramakrushna was inspired by Gopabandhu and joined the freedom struggle by leaving the school and started working as a Swecha Sebaka. He stayed in Alkasrama and from that day Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
and Ramakrushna Paramhansa became his role model.
He then met Pundit Nilakantha Das, who inspired him to pursue his studies at Satybadi Jatiya Bidyalaya. There he learned Devnagiri. At an early age of nineteen he was in to his first job at a monthly salary of twenty rupees. At this age he got married to Soudamini Devi.
At that time, only English medium schools run by the British government were recognized. Therefore, Ramakrushna had to appear two matric exams, one for the Satyabadi school and another for the English medium school. To meet his expenses he started few tuitions. He enrolled for both master in arts and law. But financial problems compelled him to start working as a teacher in Banki School. He then joined Baripada School as an assistant teacher. In 1933 Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
witnessed one of the most devastating floods, and Ramakrushna got himself in to the rescue work. In his village Bairoi he started a social organization called Narayan Samiti.
Getting established as a writer for children in Oriya Language
After working for six years at the Baripada high school he came back to Cuttack to earn his Bachelors in Education. He came back to Baripada after one year and wrote Oriya text book Sahitya Sopana. He left his job at Baripada and joined as the head master in Bhingarpur high school. In 1946 he left this job and came back to Cuttack. On 21 July 1947 Ramakrushna started his own press Parijata. In 1951 his mother died and in August 1952, Sansar magazine's first issue was out. In 1961, however, due to problems between the management and workers he had to shut down the press. Taking a off from business he got more time for his writings, and in this time some stories and songs for children were written. By this time he was a public figure and was leading a hectic life, attending meetings, writing books and at the same time managing his family of eight daughters, one son and many grandchildren.On 13 August 1988 his wife Saudamini Devi died. Prior to his final illness he was working on the second edition of Biswa Parichaya. He died on 28 October 1994.
Work
- 1930 - Tulsidas
- 1931 - Tulsidas Dohabali
- 1933 - Pratidhwani
- 1936-46 - Sangram O Sadhana (Part 1 and Part 2)
- 1948 - Don Quixot ( Translation )
- 1949 - Bigyanara Kuhuka
- 1962 - Biswa Parichaya (Oriya Bhasa Kosha)
- 1969 - Jibana Taranga
- 1975 - Jhumuka
- 1977-84 - Chaati Gacha Series (Athara Phula, Kodie Phula, Baisi Phula, Teisi Phula, Chabisi Phula, Subarna Seu, Marana Doli, Sagara Kanya)
- 1982 - Oriya Sishu sahitya and sangita Sankalana
- 1982 - Prakurtira Galpapuri
- 1982 - Indradhanu (Translation)
- 1983 - Ama Bana Jangala Katha (Translation)
- 1983 - Ama Sarira (Translation)
- 1984 - Suna Pahacha
- 1984 - Ama Jatiya Pasu, Jatiya Pakhi
- 1985 - Ama Jatiya Pataka O Jatiya Sangita, Jatiya Puspa O Jatiya Pratika
- 1986 - Jibana Rahasya
- 1988 - Ratna Pakhuda (Part 1 and Part 2)
- 1989 - Satra Phula
- 1989 - Adekha Banara Phula
- 1989 - Pachatantra Kahani (Part 1, 2 and 3)
- 1992 - Lekhanira Pathasala
- 1993 - Bhabi Dekhantu
- 1994 - Tuntunira Bahi
1994 - Biswa Parichaya (2nd Edition)
Apart from all this he was also involved in writing text books in oriya, which were used in schools for almost three decades.
- 1934 - 37 - Sahitya Sopana
- 1938 - Sahitya Bodha
- 1940 - Rachna Darpana
- 1944 - 45 - Patha Sopana
Awards
- 1975 - Orissa Sahitya AkademiSahitya AkademiThe Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
, Bhubaneswar - 1976 - Sishu Sahitya Samiti, Government of Orissa
- 1978 - Jadumani Sahitya Sansada, Udayapur
- 1979 - Kalika Sanskrutika Anusthana, Cuttack
- 1979 - Gokarnika Sahitya Samaj, Badachana
- 1979 - Bharatiya Jatiya Sangathana
- 1979 - Tiki Duniya Sishu Patrika Anusthana
- 1980 - "Jhumuka" honoured by Orissa Sahitya Academy, Bhubaneswar
- 1980 - Udaya Bhanu, Cuttack
- 1980 - Revenswa Colligiate School, Cuttack
- 1981 - Nilasaila, Cuttack
- 1981 - Unmegha Patrika
- 1982 - Sarala Upayana, Bhubaneswar
- 1982 - Utkala Pathaka Sansada, Cuttack
- 1982 - Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust
- 1983 - Kuantara Sishu Patrika
- 1987 - Manapaban Sishu Patrika
- 1988 - Radhnatha Pathagara, Soro
- 1988 - Manimanika, Cuttack
- 1989 - Berhampur Sishu Sahitya Karmasala
- 1989 - Sishu Sahitya Akademi, Orissa
- 1993 - Utkala Santana - Utkala Santana