Odia Books

Binod Kanungo was born in 1912,He left his studies and joined the Non-cooperation movement of Gandhiji in 1930, and was imprisoned many times by the British Government. His prison life started in Bihar. While in prison, he came in contact with some of our leaders and was inspired him to lead a life of dedication in the service of the country. He joined the Gandhi Seva Sangha. He is the author of Jatiya kavi Birakishora (Birakishora, the national poet), Lokanayaka Jayaprakasha (1975), Deshasevaka Gopabandhu, all being biographies. His other publications are Loka-sahitya (Folk literature, 2nd ed., 1951), Utkalare Gandhiji (Gandhiji in odisha).

His outstanding work, however, is an encyclopaedia in odia entitled Jnanamandala, about 40 volumes
of the projected 75 volumes of which have already been edited and published by him. The subjects are
treated alphabetically in these volumes. He has dedicated himself to the stupendous work single-handed, and what he has achieved so far is remarkable by any standard. He has not only collected elaborate material for innumerable entries on diverse subjects, but also used them in his work both for the benefit of the general readers of the Encyclopaedia and the neo-literates and semi-literates of the country.

He has also published booklets on may of these topics in simple and attractive odia. Some of these booklets have also been translated into other Indian languages. Binod Kanungo works with a missionary zeal and the material he has collected during the last four decades will be a valuable asset and store-house for all the Encyclopaedia makers of the country if the institution known as Jnanamandala where he works, functions as a National centre for Encyclopaedia-making in India.

Odia Books By Binod Kanungo

Lokanayaka Jayaprakasha
Deshasevaka Gopabandhu
Loka-sahitya
Utkalare Gandhiji
Jatiya kavi Birakishora