Odia Books

Godavarisha Mishra was born in 1886, he is a statesman and litterateur, was born in. poor family, passed his early days in poverty, did his M.A. and studied law in the Calcutta University.: Immediately after this he joined a group of patriotic teachers at the newly founded nationalist school at Satyabadi. Mishra’s literary works include translated prose works. He translated some famous biographies and fiction from English. His short stories, such as ‘Panu Misra’ and ‘Tola Kania’, drew the attention of the people to the old social problems and superstitions.

The two historical plays be wrote, namely Mukunda Deva (1917) and Purusottama Deva were designed to depict the Gajapati kings as ideal nationalist heroes to suit the temper of the time. He also wrote for the children. His stories from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata became very popular with children. He edited and published two journals, Lokamukha (1924) and Janata (1941). He was also associated with the editorial work of the Samaja. His first poem ‘Saraswati abahana’ appeared in the Utkala sahitya in 1909.

Collections of his poems include Kalika (1921), Kisalaya (1922) and Gitiguccha (1957). Some of these are works of translation. ‘Samyoi tire sakale’ , ‘Nidagha sarasi’ , ‘Kasiyatri’ and ‘Jaa’ are some of his great lyrics. Greater still are his elegies such as ‘Nimisaka dekha’, ‘Hoithanta’ and ‘Tha babu’ which record the pathetic pinings of a loving teacher at the passing away of a dear pupil. But Godavarisha Mishra will be remembered for ever as the pioneer of ‘gathakabita’ (verse-tales) based on themes picked up from history and legends.

On this score ‘Kalijai’ ‘Abhirama Simha’, ‘Padmavati’ and ‘Bikrama Simha’ are matchless creations which have a mass appeal peculiar only to folk literature because of their simple and unsophisticated style, the fine lyric touches and noble sentiments.

His autobiography, Ardhasatabdir Odisa o tanhire mo sthan, though incomplete, won him post-humously the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1961 .. All his works have been compiled in Godavansha granthavali in four volumes. BIBLIOGRAPHY: B.C. Acharya, Satyabadi yuga (1963); Chintamani Das, Kabi Godavarisha (1960).

Odia Books By Godavarisha Mishra

Panu Misra
Tola Kania
Lokamukha
Janata
Samaja
Padmavati

Autobiography

Ardhasatabdir Odisa O Tanhire Mo Sthan
Godavansha Granthavali

Poems

Kalika
Kisalaya
Gitiguccha

Translation

Nidagha Sarasi
Kasiyatri