Author Archives: Swedesna Sahoo

A is popularly believed to be the first and the foremost poet of ancient odia literature in its formative period. He is the author of a lyrical composition titled Keshab Koili, the earlirst extant specimen of the type of lyrics recognised as Koili (Cuckoo’s musing) in the history of odia literature. The exact date of the poet has not yet been established despite research and study by scholars, and different scholars assign different dates. But it is certain that Markanda Das lived and wrote during the age of or a little before Sarala Das, author of the monumental work Mahabharata in 15th century.

odia language had then just emerged as a separate literary vehicle for the expression of odia culture, nationality, art and literary sensibility and Markanda Das’s Keshab Koili is the superb specimen. of ancient odia lyrics in a developing language. Koili in ancient odia literature is a typical composition in which the lines of the 34 quatrains begin with the successive 34 consonants of odia’ alphabet beginning from ‘Ka’ to ‘Kshya’.

Koili is derived from the Sanskrit ‘Kokil’ which means cuckoo bird and Keshab is Krishna. Loving mother Yashoda addressed herself to the cuckoo bird depicting her apprehension, agony and sorrow at the departure of her son Krishna to Mathura where he is summoned to witness the Dhanu Uchhab by his motivated uncle Kansa. It is popularly known as Keshab Koili and the first line begins like this “O Cuckoo, my darling Krishna has gone away to Mathura.” Thus the theme of this popular lyric is taken from the Krishna legend portraying the longing and pining of a devoted mother like Yashoda thus serving as a symbol of the universal mother’s affection for the child.

The chief merit of the poem lies in the sweetness of language, delicacy of motherly sentiment and
emotion. Music and pathos being blended together; the lyric was very popular in Orissan villages and for generations it served as a model of reading material for the pupils at the primary village school stage. Keshab Koili provided a pattern and a lyrical model to the successive authors.

As a result one finds several compositions under the title Koili in medieval odia poetry and such typical poems are Artha Koili (a philosophical interpretation of Keshab Koill) by Jagannath Das, Jnanodaya Koili by Balaram Das, Varmasi Koili by Shankar Das in 16th century odia literature. Markanda Das occupies a glorified place in ancient odia literature for his only known and celebrated product Keshab Koili. The recitation and singing of this‘Koili’ in odia nomes is a part of literary tradition and the far flung village schools resound with the sonorous musical performances of Keshab Koili. A few lines from the text are quoted to illustrate the universal devotion of a mother to her child –

Oh, Cuckoo, to whom shall I give
milk and Sugar any more?
For the one who is so fond of them
has gone forever?
Oh, Cuckoo my darling has left and
does not return.

Odia Books Markanda Das

A is popularly believed to be the first and the foremost poet of ancient odia literature in its formative period. He is the author of a lyrical composition titled Keshab Koili, the earlirst extant specimen of the type of lyrics recognised as Koili (Cuckoo’s musing) in the history of odia literature. The exact date of the poet has not yet been established despite research and study by scholars, and different scholars assign different dates. But it is certain that Markanda Das lived and wrote during the age of or a little before Sarala Das, author of the monumental work Mahabharata in 15th century.

odia language had then just emerged as a separate literary vehicle for the expression of odia culture, nationality, art and literary sensibility and Markanda Das’s Keshab Koili is the superb specimen. of ancient odia lyrics in a developing language. Koili in ancient odia literature is a typical composition in which the lines of the 34 quatrains begin with the successive 34 consonants of odia’ alphabet beginning from ‘Ka’ to ‘Kshya’.

Koili is derived from the Sanskrit ‘Kokil’ which means cuckoo bird and Keshab is Krishna. Loving mother Yashoda addressed herself to the cuckoo bird depicting her apprehension, agony and sorrow at the departure of her son Krishna to Mathura where he is summoned to witness the Dhanu Uchhab by his motivated uncle Kansa. It is popularly known as Keshab Koili and the first line begins like this “O Cuckoo, my darling Krishna has gone away to Mathura.” Thus the theme of this popular lyric is taken from the Krishna legend portraying the longing and pining of a devoted mother like Yashoda thus serving as a symbol of the universal mother’s affection for the child.

The chief merit of the poem lies in the sweetness of language, delicacy of motherly sentiment and
emotion. Music and pathos being blended together; the lyric was very popular in Orissan villages and for generations it served as a model of reading material for the pupils at the primary village school stage. Keshab Koili provided a pattern and a lyrical model to the successive authors.

As a result one finds several compositions under the title Koili in medieval odia poetry and such typical poems are Artha Koili (a philosophical interpretation of Keshab Koill) by Jagannath Das, Jnanodaya Koili by Balaram Das, Varmasi Koili by Shankar Das in 16th century odia literature. Markanda Das occupies a glorified place in ancient odia literature for his only known and celebrated product Keshab Koili. The recitation and singing of this‘Koili’ in odia nomes is a part of literary tradition and the far flung village schools resound with the sonorous musical performances of Keshab Koili. A few lines from the text are quoted to illustrate the universal devotion of a mother to her child –

Oh, Cuckoo, to whom shall I give
milk and Sugar any more?
For the one who is so fond of them
has gone forever?
Oh, Cuckoo my darling has left and
does not return.

Odia Books Markanda Das

A is popularly believed to be the first and the foremost poet of ancient odia literature in its formative period. He is the author of a lyrical composition titled Keshab Koili, the earlirst extant specimen of the type of lyrics recognised as Koili (Cuckoo’s musing) in the history of odia literature. The exact date of the poet has not yet been established despite research and study by scholars, and different scholars assign different dates. But it is certain that Markanda Das lived and wrote during the age of or a little before Sarala Das, author of the monumental work Mahabharata in 15th century.

odia language had then just emerged as a separate literary vehicle for the expression of odia culture, nationality, art and literary sensibility and Markanda Das’s Keshab Koili is the superb specimen. of ancient odia lyrics in a developing language. Koili in ancient odia literature is a typical composition in which the lines of the 34 quatrains begin with the successive 34 consonants of odia’ alphabet beginning from ‘Ka’ to ‘Kshya’.

Koili is derived from the Sanskrit ‘Kokil’ which means cuckoo bird and Keshab is Krishna. Loving mother Yashoda addressed herself to the cuckoo bird depicting her apprehension, agony and sorrow at the departure of her son Krishna to Mathura where he is summoned to witness the Dhanu Uchhab by his motivated uncle Kansa. It is popularly known as Keshab Koili and the first line begins like this “O Cuckoo, my darling Krishna has gone away to Mathura.” Thus the theme of this popular lyric is taken from the Krishna legend portraying the longing and pining of a devoted mother like Yashoda thus serving as a symbol of the universal mother’s affection for the child.

The chief merit of the poem lies in the sweetness of language, delicacy of motherly sentiment and
emotion. Music and pathos being blended together; the lyric was very popular in Orissan villages and for generations it served as a model of reading material for the pupils at the primary village school stage. Keshab Koili provided a pattern and a lyrical model to the successive authors.

As a result one finds several compositions under the title Koili in medieval odia poetry and such typical poems are Artha Koili (a philosophical interpretation of Keshab Koill) by Jagannath Das, Jnanodaya Koili by Balaram Das, Varmasi Koili by Shankar Das in 16th century odia literature. Markanda Das occupies a glorified place in ancient odia literature for his only known and celebrated product Keshab Koili. The recitation and singing of this‘Koili’ in odia nomes is a part of literary tradition and the far flung village schools resound with the sonorous musical performances of Keshab Koili. A few lines from the text are quoted to illustrate the universal devotion of a mother to her child –

Oh, Cuckoo, to whom shall I give
milk and Sugar any more?
For the one who is so fond of them
has gone forever?
Oh, Cuckoo my darling has left and
does not return.

Odia Books Markanda Das

Keshab Koili