Gangadhar Meher

Gangadhar Meher (August 9, 1862 - April 4, 1924) was born on the day of Sravana Purnima at Barpali, Bargarh District (undivided Sambalpur District) into a poor weaver family. He was educated up to 5th Class. He has defined the Oriya Literature and given it a new meaning. His education was only up to 5th class but he has written his poetry in such a pure Oriya language that even well-educated people find it difficult to understand his writing. His poetic creations include 'Tapasvini' [http://hkmeher.blogspot.com/2008/07/gangadhara-mehers-tapasvini.html Tapasvini] , ‘Pranaya Ballari’, ‘Kichaka Badha’, ‘Indumati’ , ‘Utkal Laxmi’, ‘Ayodhya’, ‘Bharati Bhabana’, ‘Bhakti Upahar’, ‘Kabita Mala’ & ‘Krushaka Sangita’. Gangadhar is widely known as a poet of nature (Prakruti Kabi/Swabhav Kabi). He is rated as a great poet in Indian Literature. His poetry can be classified into lyrics, devotional, patriotic, reformative, ethical, agricultural, elegy and narration of nature. His prose works include ‘Atma Jeevani’, 'Shri Nruparaj Singh’, ‘Purana Kabi Fakir Mohan’, Swargriya Kasinath Panda, Ehaki Prothibira Sabda, Sikshit, Asikshit & Sikshya Bhimanini. [http://sambalpur.nic.in/eminent%20personalities.htm#GANGADHAR%20MEHER Eminent Personalities of Sambalpur District]

In 1949, Sambalpur College in Sambalpur, which had opened in 1944, was renamed Gangadhar Meher College in his honour. Since 1999, the college has been called Gangadhar Meher College (Autonomous). [http://www.gmcollege.org/link_file/lnk3.htm About Gangadhar Meher College (Autonomous)]

Sambalpur University instituted the Gangadhar Meher National Award for Poetry, which is conferred annually, in 1992.

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