Odia Books

Harekrishna Mahatab was born in 1899,He is at once a novelist, a story writer, a playwright. a journalist, a poet, an essayist, and above all an eminent historian. He is the author of many books in odia and English. Two of his remarkable contributions to odia literature are the monthly magazine, Jhankar, and the annual
cultural meet, ‘Vishva Milana’.

Though brought up in the midst of luxury he was inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and joined
the Non-Co-operation movement in his youth. While continuing his studies in the College he edited an odia monthly, Malaya, and the English weekly, Dustbin. The publication of his Prajatanta began in 1923 as a weekly newspaper. But it was banned by the British Government as it supported Gandhiji’s Non-cooperation movement.

It was revived in 1947 after India achieved her Independence. During this period of the struggle for freedom, he also published an odia periodical, Rachana, and English periodical, Adventure. After Independence The Eastern Times, an English daily, was published under his patronage and it was at that time the only English dally newspaper in odisha.

His works during this period, especially his novels, short stories and one-act plays, contain pictures of the contemporary society. His autobiography is the living history of modern odisha. He wrote about the social, political, cultural and economic condition of odisha in his ‘Gan majlish’. This is written in a simple and colloquial language. Besides all these, his history of odisha is a monumental work. It reveals his scholarship and deep insight into the various periods of the history of odisha.

His publications include Pratibha, Abyapara, Tutor, Charichakhyu, Palasi abasane, Atmadan, Shesha
ashru, Sadhanar pathe, Nutana dharma, Jibana samasya, Chhayapathar jatri, Gandhiji O odisha,
Dasabarasara odisha, Odisa itihas, Tritiya parba, Gan majlish (Parts I and II), Swoggare emergency,
Beginning of the End, History of odisha, and Gandhi, the Political Leader.

Odia Books By Harekrishna Mahatab

Pratibha
Charichakhyu
Palasi abasane
Atmadan
Sheshashru
Sadhanar Pathe
Nutana Dharma
Jibana Samasya
Chhayapathar Jatri
Gandhiji O Odisha