Godabarish Mishra

Pandit Godabarish Mishra was a poet and notable socialist from Orissa, India. He is known for his contribution to Oriya literature.

History

Pandit Godabarish Mishra was born to Lingaraj Mishra & Apsara Devi in Srinibaspur Sasan, near Banapur, Khordha.^[1] He participated in the non-cooperation movement of 1921 and worked as an editor of The Samaja (started by Gopabandhu Das) for 2 years. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Gopabandhu Das, he joined the Congress party and was a member of the Vidhan Sabha (Lower House) of the Orissa Legislative Assembly.

Education

Mishra completed his primary education from the village school and then received his higher education from the Puri District School in 1906 and enrolled in Ravenshaw College. He used to take tuition to cover the college fees. He received his B.A. in Philosophy in 1910. He obtained his M.A. in economics in Calcutta in 1912.

Work

In teaching

He was a teacher in the Satyabadi School from 1913 to 1919. Then, he became the headmaster of Chakradharpur High School in the Singhbhumi district(Now in Jharkhand) from 1919 to 1921. His aim was to preserve the Odia language in the district of Singhbhumi. After taking part in the non-cooperation movement, he returned to his home village in 1922 and was involved in establishing new schools, small-scale industries, farms and social welfare organizations.

The Samaja

In 1928 he became the Editor of The Samaja, an Orissa local newspaper, holding that position for approximately two years, after the founder died.

In Utkal Samilani

He was associated with Utkal Samilani from 1919 to 1955.^[2] He was the President of the Utkal Samilani Special Conference held at Berhampur in 1955. He met Pundit Gopabandhu by chance while staying in a hostel. He was one of Gopabandhu's "Pancahsakha" (five friends).

Work with Oriya literature

Although he belonged to a conservative Brahmin family, Mishra was a socialist. He was against caste discrimination. He didn't wear his sacred thread and also wore a moustache, which is against the Brahmin caste system. His work includes many essays, stories, novels, poems, biographies and translations. His poems played a crucial role in creating awareness towards that nation. His dramas Purushottam Deb, Mukunda Deb and Ardha Shatabdi Ra Orissa O Tahin Re Mo Sthana are significant tributes to Oriya literature. He was also a competent editor. He published magazine Lokamukha from Banapur in 1924. He also used to write for the Eastcoast (An English paper) published by Shashi Bhusan Rath. He was awarded a doctorate in literature from Utkal University.

Participation in the Non-cooperation Movement

He was the member of the district board from 1924 to 1933. He was a member of Orissa Vidhan Sabha from 1937 till his death, with the exception of a five-year break. During this time he did not hold a post in the Orissa congress, due to political differences. When the Orissa ministry of congress was created he was not included in the ministry. He became a Vidhan Sabha member in 1952 as an independent candidate. He served in the Vidhan Sabha as an eminent administrator and member of the opposition party. He left Congress in 1939 and joined the Forward Block. He served as finance and education minister in the ministry of the Maharaja of Parlakhemundi from 1941 to 1944. During his stay as minister in 1943 he played an important role in the establishment of Utkal University,^[3] Cuttack High court and various colleges in Puri, Baleshwar and Sambalpur.

References

External links

• Khorda.nic.in
• Dailypioneer.com