Kalindi Charan Panigrahi

Kalindi Charan Panigrahi (2 July 1901 – 15 May 1991) was a noted Odia poet, novelist, story writer, dramatist, and essayist. He was one of the members of the Odia literary group Sabuja Goshthi (the Green Group).^[1] Influenced by the romantic thoughts of Rabindranath Tagore, during the thirties when the progressive Marxist movements was in full flow in Odia Literature, Kalindi Charana Panigrahi, the older brother of Bhagabati Charana Panigrahi,the founder of Marxist trend in Odisha, formed a group in 1920 called “Sabuja Samiti”, along with two of his writer friends Annada Shankar Ray and Baikuntha Patnaik. Perhaps it was the very short existed period in Odia Literature, and later submerged with either Gandhian thoughts or Marxian thoughts. Later Kalindi Charana Panigrahi wrote his famous novel Matira Manisha, being influenced by Gandhism. He was for a period, the editor of English Journals, Bhanja Pradipa and Mayurbhanja Chronicle.

His eldest daughter Nandini Satpathy was born in 1931, who later went on to become the Chief Minister of Odisha.^[2]

His younger brother Bhagabati Charana Panigrahi was the founder of Communist Party in Odisha. Bhagabati's great contribution for the Independence of India is underplayed in the history, because he was illegally imprisoned, and slow-poisoned by the British. His great grandson Suparno Satpathy is a noted writer, awarded social activist, and a young political leader.

Awards and honours

He was honoured with the fellowship of Sahitya Academy in 1971.^[3] In the same year, he was honoured with Padma Bhushan by Government of India.^[4] In 1976, Sambalpur University conferred on him an honorary D. Litt. degree.

Major works

His major works include,

• poems – Jadu Ghara, Puri Mandira and Mahadipa;
• novels - ମାଟିର ମଣିଷ (Matira Manisha) (1934), ଲୁହାର ମଣିଷ (Luhara Manisha), ଅମରଚିତା (Amarachita),ଆଜିର ମଣିଷ (Aajira Manisha) and ମୁକ୍ତାଗଡର କ୍ଷୁଧା (Mukta Gadara Kshudha);
• short Stories – Devadashi, Rashi Phala, Shesha Rashmi and Sagarika;
• dramas – Padmini and Pridarshi;
• biographical works – Bhaktakabi Madhusudana, Karmabira Gauri Shankar and Jaha Ange Nibhaichi (autobiography) and
• essays – Sahitya Samachara and Sahityika.

The Odia film Matira Manisha (1966) directed by Mrinal Sen is based on his novel of same name.

Notes

See also

• Odia literature