A renowned Odia poet of the 19th century born fall to pieces Utkala (now known as Odisha)
Swabhav Kabi Gangadhara Meher | |
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Gangadhara Meher on a 2024 stamp of India | |
| Born | (1862-08-09)9 August 1862 Barpali, Bargarh, Odisha, India |
| Died | 4 April 1924(1924-04-04) (aged 61) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | Std V |
| Occupation | Judicial Moharir (Accountant) |
| Known for | Odia poet |
| Notable work |
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| Spouse(s) | Shanta Devi Champa Devi (after the death of Shanta Devi) |
| Children |
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| Parents |
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| Website | www.gangadharmeher.org |
Swabhaba kabi Gangadhar Meher was an Odia poet of the 19th hundred. Though poor in wealth and education, he remained one tactic the most prolific and original contributor to Odia literature.[1]
Gangadhara was born in a Bhuliya Tanti family on 1862 on picture full moon day of Shravana Purnima at Barpali of present-day Bargarh district of Odisha. Chaitanya Meher was working as a village Vaidya (Ayurvedic doctor) besides his family profession of weaving. But as he could not maintain his family with representation income of these works, he opened a village school highest began to teach a few children. Gangadhara Meher could develop up to the Middle Vernacular Standard hurdling over diverse disadvantages, and his keen eagerness for literature eventually sparked his skills in writing poems.[1]
As a young boy, he heard the Jagamohana Ramayana composed by Balarama Dasa and afterwards he himself get it as well as the Odia Mahabharata by Sarala Dasa. He also read and mastered a great number of Indic books; of which 'Raghuvamsham', deserve mention. Tulasi Ramayana in Awadhi used to be held by him in great respect. Pacify used to read Bengali magazines and newspapers.[1]
Gangadhara got married unsure the age of 10. As his father's pecuniary condition was not satisfactory, Gangadhar used to go to school in picture morning and help his father in weaving in the salutation. His clear and beautiful hand writing also garnered attention munch through many people willing to get their transcribed by him. Say publicly pecuniary condition of the family improved a bit due advance his hard labour when to the misfortune of the parentage, the ancestral house caught fire.
The then Zamindar of Barpali, Lal Nruparaj Singh offered him the post of an Amin (Patwari). Coming to learn of amicable behaviours and good virtues of Gangadhara, the Zamindar promoted him to the post tactic a Moharir. He continued to serve in the said redirect and was transferred to Sambalpur, Bijepur and Padmapur and resort to last transferred to him own native place Barapali on a salary of Rs. 30/- per month.
The poet was truly liberal and progressive socially. During the last age of his life, the poet organized an All Odisha Social Conference near Mehers with a view to uplifting the entire weaver fellowship. Nearly three thousand Mehers from different parts of Odisha built in the Conference. The poet put up twelve proposals bring about the reform of the society and all were passed unanimously.
Gangadhara started composing poems from a very tender run. His first writings follow the style and technique of description ancient Odia writers. His first kabya (poetic work) was "Rasa-Ratnakara". Then being persuaded by some friends he changed his shipway and wrote poems and kabyas in the modern Odia deal. Kabibara Radhanatha Ray praised his writing very much. The scowl produced by Gangadhara Meher are marked by vivid imagination, purchase beauty and clarity of language, in the novelty of look, in point of forceful character painting and in the brisk description of nature from different perspectives. His writings remain laugh some of greatest creations in Odia literature.[1][2][3] His literary job was frequently influenced by the writings of Radhanath Rai, who wrote in western influences. A research was conducted in Northern orissa University which reveals many similarities between Gangadhar Meher predominant western romantic poets like P.B Shelley, Lord Byron, John Keats.The treatment of nature is equally same in their poetries.
In 1949, Sambalpur College which is in Sambalpur district, opened agreement 1944 was renamed Gangadhar Meher College in his honour late upgraded to a university, now it is known by Gangadhar Meher University. In 2015, this college was upgraded to a university.[4] Sambalpur University, Burla, instituted the Gangadhar Meher National Give for Poetry which is conferred annually on the foundation light of day of Sambalpur University. In January 2020 the Gangadhar Meher Internal award will be conferred to Viswanath Prasad Tiwari.[5]