Odia Books

Kunjabehari Das born in 1914 is a poet and essayist who graduated from Ravenshaw College and
obtained his M.A. Degree both in odia and in Sanskrit from Calcutta University. He worked as Lecturer and Superintendent of Sanskrit studies in odisha, then joined as Reader in Odiya at Viswabharati, Shantiniketan. Again he came back to odisha and became Professor of odia in Ravenshaw College.

Kaidi (The Prisoner,1938) his first publication deals with the sacrifice of freedom fighters. Prabhati (The morning Songs, 1943)is a collection of sonnets in which he follows the metaphysical trend of Madhusudana Rao, Pashana Charane Rakta (Blood under the Feet of Stone, 1945) is a long dramatic poem, which is based on a historical myth of transformation of cruel Ashoka to a benevolent emperor.

Charanika (Lady Bard, 1948), a poetic drama, centres around the legend of the famous temple at Konarka. Birashri(Heroic Beauty, 1948) contains ballads on historical and legendary themes. The other collections like Kankalara Luha (Tears of a Skeleton,1949), Se Eka Lomasha Nila Hata (That’s a hairy blue Hand, 1954), Lahu 0 Lohit (Blood and Red, 1955), Mati 0 Lathi (Soil and the Stick) are full of socialistic enthusiasms.

In these poems he is moved to tears by the misery of the down-trodden common men. His love for nature is reflected in the col1ections of poems like Duduma (1945), Bagra(1948) and Narmada. The first two are water falls and the last one is a river in the Deccan. The poet is still producing volumes of poems. His poems are collected in Kunjabehari Sanchayan, consisting of three parts.

Anu (Atom, 1964) is a collection of poems, very short in length, and that way a new experiment in odia poetry. His poems for children ,are collected in Tak Dama Dam (1951),Kunimuni (1959), Itikili Mitikili and Khelasathi (Playmates). Apart from writing poems, he has also written critical essays and an autobiography.

His autobiography, Mo Kahani (My Story, 1978) received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1979. Kunjabehari has also made a mark in the field of collection of folk lore. He got his Ph.D. degree from Viswabharati for his research on folk lore. He has also written a collection of short stories called Hasa Kandar Gapa (Stories of Laughter and Tears).

Prabhati
Pashana Charane Rakta
Charanika
Kankalara Luha
Mati 0 Lathi
Duduma
Khelasathi
Narmada
Kunjabehari Sanchayan
Mo Kahani