 Personality-
The Poet
Statesman
GOPABANDHU DAS
Gopabandhu Das
(1877-1928) who is one of the founders
of the modern Orissa state, is also
remembered for his patriotic lyrical
poems and lucid, thought provoking prose
writings.
After
graduation, he obtained his Law degree
and joined the Bar. But soon he left his
legal profession and devoted himself
completely to the service of the people
of Orissa. Along with his illustrious
friends, Nilakantha Das, Godavarish
Mishra, Acharya Harihar Das and
Krupasindhu Misra, he started a school
at Satyabadi (Presently - Sakhigopal)
near Puri, which became the most
important center of cultural activities
of Orissa for decades. He championed the
cause of the formation of the Orissa
state for the Oriya speaking people,
started the Satyabadi (a literary
monthly) and the Samaja (a weekly which
later became the most widely circulated
daily newspaper of Orissa) and joined
the Freedom Movement under the
leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.
Gopabandhu
Das was a great orator and his speeches
made at the Bihar-Orissa legislature of
which he was a member, shows his
excellent style of oratory as well as
clarity of thought and concern for the
poor. One may point at him as the father
of modern Oriya journalism. His essays
on education easily prove that he was an
educationist of great insight and
understanding.
His ambition
from childhood was to be a poet.
Absorbed in social activities he had
little time for literary endeavours, yet
while imprisoned in the Hazaribagh Jail
(1922-1924) for participating in the
Indian Freedom Movement, he wrote
Bandira Atmakatha (The soliloquy of a
Prisoner) and Dharmapada. Bandira
Atmakatha is the expression of his deep
love for the people of Orissa and
Dharmapada is the story of the
twelve-year-old artisan boy who, after
completing the Konark temple, drowned
himself in the sea to save the lives and
prestige of the twelve hundred artisans
of Orissa. Though not a poetic genius,
his sincerity of feelings and simple
diction touches the heart of the reader.
Educated Oriyas are often found quoting
a line or two from his verses such as
Mishu Mora Deha E Desha Matire (Let this
body of mine merge with the soil of this
country), Pachha Ghuncha Nahin Birara
Jatake (The valiant never retreats), or
Raha Raha Kshyane Vaspiya Sakata,
Dekhibi Chilika Charu Chitrapata (A poem
dedicated to the beauty of Chilika
Lake).
Gopabandhu
Das was born in Swando village of Puri
district in Orissa. He is often refered
to as the Father of Modern Orissa. He
was conferred the honorary title of
Utkalamani (The jewel of Utkal/Orissa)
by the people of Orissa.
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