Prabhu Kalyan Mohapatra*

Kantakabi Lakshmikanta Mohapatra was a leading freedom fighters and a nationalist poet of rare caliber. His powerful patriotic songs were a perennial source of inspiration during freedom struggle of India and separate state-hood movement.

Lakshmikanta, popularly known as ‘Kantakabi’ by the people of Orissa, occupies a unique place in the socio-political-cultural life of the State. Kantakabi was a versatile genius, who tried his hand in drama, parody, poetry, short-story, novel with a flair nationalistic fervour and incredible craftsmanship in satire. He was one of the few writers who made significant contributions to Oriya literature, when the very existence of Oriya language was threatened. A creator and a critic rolled in one, Kantakabi’s caustic critism of erring politicians and despot feudal chiefs earned him an awful reputation. As a musician and actor he has also contributed enormously to the rich tradition of performing arts in Orissa. So it would be proper to say that Kantakabi a distinguished man of letters, has left behind his indelible foot-prints in various fields of Oriya literature.

Kantakabi’s popular patriotic songs like Bande Utkala Janani, Koti Koti Kanthe Aji, Udaee Nisana Bajai Veri had thrilled the souls of millions of Oriya’s during freedom struggle and separate state-hood movement. His composition Bande Utkala Janani was adopted as the welcome song for Balasore Session of Utkal Sammilani, the organization which sphere-headed the separate Orissa state movement. This song has assumed the status of state song of Orissa and immortalized him.

Apart from his bountiful contributions to Oriya literature, Kantakabi’s family had also participated in the freedom struggle to a great extent. His sisters Janhavi Devi and Kokila Devi, younger brother Kamalakanta and two sons Nityananda and Gour Chandra joined the national movement and courted arrest time and again in different phases of the struggle. His father Bhagabat Prasad Samantaray Mohapatra, though an advocate by profession, was a great nationalistic leader, Bhagabat Prasad represented Bihar-Orissa Legislative Council for four times and served as its deputy speaker for two terms. As a social reformer, Bhagabat Prasad’s role in eradication of dowry system and reduction of wedding expenses are memorable. Sister Janhavi Devi and Kokila Devi mobilized women for Civil Disobedience movement and especially enlightened the rural illiterate women about various programmes of freedom struggle. They organized a well-attended meeting of women at Balasore over which noted nationalist poetess Dr. Kuntala Kumari Sabat presided. Brother Kamalakanta was a firebrand freedom fighter and journalist who edited the Oriya daily ‘the Prajatantra’ for sometime during the national movement. He was taken into custody for publication of anti-colonial news and died during imprisonment. His two sons Nityananda and Gour Chandra are also veteran Freedom Fighters and noted literatures. Although Kantakabi could not physically participate in the national movement due to serious ailment but his entire family members plunged into the Freedom Struggle.

A multi-facet personality, Kantakabi, was attracted by the ideals of Gandhiji. His song “Bhai re abe aarata kata-aau kichhi bharasa nahi- aarata aeka mukhi bata” (Brothers now spin the Charkha-nothing you can depend upon-Charkha is the only way out) reflects the poet’s Gandhian thought and his prose piece “Asahajogira Atmakatha” (Autobiography of a non-co-operator) reveals his attitude towards the non-co-operation movement of 1921.

Lakshmikanta was christened as ‘Kantakabi’ by his innumerable admirers. So also his patriotic song Bande Utkala Janani has not been adopted as the state-song of Orissa by the provincial government but the people of Orissa have spontaneously accorded the some status to it. Members cutting across party-line have voiced in Orissa Legislative Assembly to accord state-song status to it, which depicts the enriched language, culture, heritage, river-rivulets, air-water and pristine glory of Orissa.

Born to Radhamani Devi and Choudhury Bhagabat Prasad Samantaray Mohapatra as eldest son on 9^th December 1988 at Dhuanpatria Lane of Cuttack city, Kantakabi, breathed his last on 24^th February 1953 leaving behind a multitude of mourning populace to grief.

Orissa Legislative Assembly condoled the death of Kantakabi on 2^nd March 1953, just within a week of his sad demise. The then Chief Minister Nabakrushna Choudhury, opposition leader Sradhakara Supakara, Speaker Nanda Kishore Das expressed grief from the core of their heart and said, “Kantakabi’s death has not only created void in literatury world but has irreparably damaged the public life of Orissa. His efforts, especially, to cleanse the politics through satire shall be remembered by the posterity forever.” The work of Kantakabi will continues to inspire the succeeding generation and that will reverbate in the hearts of Oriya people ad infinitum. 

*Freelance Journalist, Bhubaneswar