Ramakrushna Nanda

Ramakrushna Nanda
File:Ramakrushna Nanda.jpg Ramakrushna Nanda during 1990s at Cuttack
Born	(1906-02-15)15 February 1906 Bairoi, Cuttack
Died	Cuttack
Occupation	Teacher
Language	Odia
Nationality	Indian
Ethnicity	Odia
Notable works	Ahe Dayamaya Biswa Bihari
Spouse	Saudamini Devi

Ramakrushna Nanda (15 February 1906 – 28 October 1994) of Bairoi, Cuttack, Odisha, India, was an author of children's literature. He composed the song Ahe Dayamaya Biswa Bihari, a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati Ashram. This song was included in his Odia language text book Sahitya Sopana.

Biography

Family

Nanda's father was Madhusudan Nanda (d. 1892). His mother died in 1951. In 1925, Nanda married Soudamini Devi (d. 13 August 1988). They had eight daughters and one son. Nanda's younger brother was Dinakrushna Nanda.

Education

File:Oriya.jpg

An example of Odia script.

Nanda was educated in the village of Kantapada, and at the Revenshwa collegiate school, Cuttack. He wrote for a school magazine, Chandrika. At the time of Independence of India, Nanda was inspired by a local leader, Gopobandhu and became a Swecha Sebaka, a volunteer. He stayed in Alkasrama,until continuing his studies at Satybadi Jatiya Bidyalaya, where he learnt Devnagiri, a type of Indian alphabet. Nanda also matriculated from the English medium school and later received a bachelor of education.

Career

Nanda began his career as a teacher at Banki school. He was then, for six years, an assistant teacher at Baripada high school. In 1933, Nanda became a social worker. He began a local welfare organization called Narayan Samiti. He was also a head master at Bhingarpur high school.

Writing

Nanda's first text book in the Odia language was Sahitya Sopana. In 1946, he left this job and came back to Cuttack. On 21 July 1947, Nanda opened Parijata press. In August 1952, he began the Sansar magazine. The press closed in 1961. In retirement, Nanda wrote children's books and songs. Of the form nanabaya, (nonsense rhyme), Nanada said,"

"Unintelligibility or irrelevance does not reduce the value of nanbaya. The rhythm and style is unique. Sometimes the meanings are unclear or impossible to ascertain. In English, some of these rhymes are called 'nonsense' or meaningless rhymes. By defying the metrical prescriptions and grammatical conventions, the spontaneity of these rhymes endear themselves to children."

Lyricist

Nanda's lyrics for Aahe Dayamaya Bishwa Bihari and Holi Holi Re Holi Ranga Rangeli Nali. were used in the 1978 film, Balidaan .

Bibliography

• 1930 – Tulsidas
• 1931 – Tulsidas Dohabali
• 1933 – Pratidhwani
• 1934 – 37 – Sahitya Sopana
• 1938 – Sahitya Bodha
• 1940 – Rachna Darpana
• 1944 – 45 – Patha Sopana
• 1936–46 – Sangram O Sadhana (Part 1 and Part 2)
• 1948 – Don Quixoti ( Translation )
• 1949 – Bigyanara Kuhuka
• 1962 – Biswa Parichaya (Oriya Bhasa Kosha)
• 1969 – Jibana Taranga.
• 1975 – Jhumuka
• 1977–84 – Chaati Gacha series (Athara Phula, Kodie Phula, Baisi Phula, Teisi Phula, Chabisi Phula, Subarna Seu, Marana Doli, Sagara Kanya)
• 1982 – Oriya Sishu sahitya and sangita Sankalana
• 1982 – Prakurtira Galpapuri
• 1982 – Indradhanu (translation)
• 1983 – Ama Bana Jangala Katha (translation)
• 1983 – Ama Sarira (translation)
• 1984 – Suna Pahacha
• 1984 – Ama Jatiya Pasu, Jatiya Pakhi
• 1985 – Ama Jatiya Pataka O Jatiya Sangita, Jatiya Puspa O Jatiya Pratika
• 1986 – Jibana Rahasya
• 1988 – Ratna Pakhuda (Part 1 and Part 2)
• 1989 – Satra Phula
• 1989 – Adekha Banara Phula
• 1989 – Pachatantra Kahani (Part 1, 2 and 3)
• 1992 – Lekhanira Pathasala
• 1993 – Bhabi Dekhantu
• 1994 – Tuntunira Bahi
• 1994 – Biswa Parichaya (2nd edition)

See also

• "Ahe Dayamaya Biswabihari" A poem by Nanda. Accessed (in Oriya) 31 December 2013.