RADHA MOHANA GADNAYAK

Born on 35th August in the year 1911 in the village Kalandapal adjacent to Angul town. His father’s name was Mahadeva Gad Nayak & mother’s name was Golakamani Devi. He died on 21st February in the year 2000 AD. He joined himself in the Satyagraha movement led by Gandhiji in the year 1934.

In 1975 he got Kendra Sahitya Akademi for three years 1984-1987. He was adorned with ‘Padma Shree by the Government of India in the year 1990. Poet Radha Mohana Gadanayak is well known in Orissa as the poet of ballads. He is popularly known as ‘MATIRA KABI’, The ‘Poet of Soil’ in Orissa. After Pandit Godabarisha Mishra he was adept in composing ballads. The poetic creations like ‘UTKALIKA’, ‘SMARANIKA’, ‘PASHU PAKHYIRA KABYA’ and ‘SAMUKARA SWAPNA are worthy to mention.