Odia Books

Krushna Prasad Basu was born in 1894, though known throughout odisha as a dramatist, is also a
renowned litterateur with considerable contribution to odia literature. He was born in an affluent zamindar family at Kuanshpur, near Jajpur town in Cuttack district. As a child, Krushna was a lover of music and a good singer. He inherited his musical talent from his father, Govinda Prasad, who was a good instrumentalist and a lover of traditional songs.

Basu obtained first division in Matriculation examination. For higher studies, he joined the Ravenshaw College, Cuttack, and then the St. Xavier’s College, Calcutta, for his B.Sc. There he came into contact with the famous theatre personalities, and developed a strong liking for this performing art. While still a student,he took keen interest in the Freedom Movement and joined the terrorist party of Aurobindo Ghose. Before appearing for the B.Sc. examination, he was arrested and finally jailed on sedition charges. He was rusticated from the college and his student career came to an end.

The theatre group Biraja Opera, was his brain child and his first drama Shakuntala staged by this troupe achieved instant success.Within a short time Basu established himself as a powerful actor and a dramatist of repute. Basu tried to change the trend by introducing more and more prose dialogue into it. During this period two notable opera writers, Vaishnab Pani and Bala Krushna Mohanty, had started working in this field.

He has written twenty-three dramas out of which only three or four have been published. A few of his
popular dramas are: Satya Sandha Harishchandra, Babruvahan, Shakuntala, Kamsavadh, Krushna charita,
Hari anwesan, Vilwamangal, Yajatikeshari, Vamanavatar, Devabrata, Himadrijema, Sri Gouragatha,
Kishkindhya, Matru puja, Paduka, Kacha-Devyani, Pravas yagnya, Panchali, Karagar, Bhuyan Pidha,
Mitha Mahura and Brahmana.

As a person of many facets he also had a deep involvement with the traditional ‘Pala’ literature of odisha, which once grew up to establish a communal harmony between the Hindus and the Muslims. Basu has written nearly thirty-six Palas out of which Nikumbhila yajnya, Pravas yajnya, Urvashi and Panchali pattaharan are very popular.

The Belles-lettres is a neglected branch in the modern odia literature. Even now few writers venture into cultivating this untrodden area. Basu started a serial, called Akhada ghare baithak (Chitchat in a club house)in Jhankar, a prestigious odia monthly, attracting the attention of the readers from all spheres. Basu has tilised his vast experience, sharp observation, deep intuition, instant wit and sense of humour in these writings. They have also been written in a lighter vein in a simple and straightforward language.

Basu has written two novels Pharua buti and Mamu, and a few short stories. Though his attempt in this field is not quantitative, his works are remarkable for their superb quality. In these writings he has tried to dissect a diseased society as an expert social-surgeon and demanded social justice for all. His contribution to odia prose is considerable.Basu was deeply influenced by the Gandhian philosophy and also wrote a book on the same subject called Gandhi darshan in odia.

Pharua buti
Kishkindhya
Mamu
Babruvahan
Shakuntala
Kamsavadh
Krushna Charita
Himadrijema