Annapurna Maharana : a Philanthropist

Odisha Review August - 2013 Annapurna Maharana : A Philanthropist Prabhat Kumar Nanda The girl child born on 3rd November, 1917 in patriotism was fostered in the life of young girl the family of Nabakrushna Choudhury, the Annapurna. She inherited the courage to serve freedom fighter was later became the torch bearer the people from her family members. of social awareness and reformation in the history of Odisha. Annapurna Her father Gopabandhu Choudhury was Maharana popularly known as a Magistrate as appointed by Chuni Appa has left golden the British Government with footprints in the pages of high salary and privileges. The Indian independence clarion call of Mahatma movement. Annapurna was Gandhi insisted Gopabandhu influenced by the philosophy Choudhury to resign from the of Mahatma Gandhi, the job and to join actively in the father of our nation. From the independence movement. childhood she had the Annapurna was highly inspired privilege to be a member of by Pandit Gopabandhu Das Banara Sena, the specific to serve people for their group of children dedicated upliftment. She was themselves for the success of associated with the promotion freedom movement. of Odia Newspaper, ‘The Samaja’, a weekly publication Annapurna had the which was later converted to privilege to come in contact a daily newspaper publication with great leaders like Lok Nayak Jayaprakash to propagate the spirit of patriotism. Narayan, Acharya Vinoba Bhave, Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das, Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Annapurna for the first time was arrested Das and Acharya Harihar. Gopabandhu by the British Government in the year 1930 for Choudhury and Rama Devi were the parents of her association with Salt Movement. She attended Annapurna. Her brother Manmohan Choudhury, the Indian National Congress meeting at Karachi uncle Nabakrushna Choudhury and her Aunt, in the year 1931. She was an young girl of 14 Malati Devi sacrificed themselves for the cause years. She had the opportunity for association with of Indian independence. Hence the influence of Simant Gandhi, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan. She 46 August - 2013 Odisha Review was an active member of Indian National She was a great orator. She was highly influenced Congress and had the privilege of attending all by her mother Rama Devi for successful conferences. Annapurna actively participated organisation of different movements against drugs, during the visit of Mahatma Gandhi to Odisha in atrocities against women and downtrodden the year 1934. She was one of the co-ordinators people. She was conferred with Doctorate degree of visits of Mahatma Gandhi to Odisha during and was awarded with Utkal Ratna. She was 1934 and 1938. Her leadership and patriotism actively associated with different social was appreciated by Mahatma Gandhi, She was organizations i.e. Kasturba Gandhi Rastreeya inspired by receiving a number of letters from Smaraka Nidhi, Utkala Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi, Mahatma Gandhi for planning of independence Sarbodaya Relief Committee, Utkal Nabajeeban movement in Odisha. She was a good singer and Mandali, Utkal Sarbodaya Mandali, Acharya was winning the hearts of freedom fighters by Harihara Trust, Nagari Lipi Parishad and other singing patriotic songs. Mahatma Gandhi was the organizations dedicated for social awareness. friend, philosopher and guide of Annapurna. After The life of Annapurna Maharana was a the independence of India, she was not interested message of selfless dedication and patriotism to for any position or power through politics. She the people of the society. She was married to engaged herself in the service for the poor people Sarat Chandra Maharana in the year 1942. During and creation of social awareness. She was very such period the inter-caste marriage was not industrious and devotion to work was her accepted in the society. Annapurna Choudhury philosophy. Simple living and high thinking was was born in Karan family but married to Sarat adopted by Annapurna. Punctuality and discipline Chandra Maharana of goldsmith family. It was a was the philosophy of her life. bold step taken by Annapurna Choudhury to end Annapurna has been accepted as a great the casteism in the society. Hence Annapurna philanthropist of India. Self dedication to the Choudhury was known as Annapurna Maharana. optimum limit was experienced from the life of Her two sons Gyana Deba and Karma Deba are Annapurna. She inspired people to be united Professors inf Physics and were conferred with during the war with China and Pakistan. She was Doctorate degrees. Annapurna Maharana associated with the mission of Lok Nayak breathed her last on the 31st December, 2012. Jayaprakash Narayan for conversion of hearts of While analyzing the life of Annapurna dacoits of Chambal Valley in Madhya Pradesh. Maharana it is evident that the simple living and Till her death she was a worshipper of social high thinking is the basic way of human life. Being service and selfless dedication. a woman she never felt herself incompetent to The literary excellence of Annapurna was join actively in freedom struggle to disseminate the message of reformation in all walks of daily recognized by her writing “Dasyu Hrudayara life. She was a successful philanthropist by Debata” and “Amruta Anubhab”. “Dasyu dedicating her life for the upliftment of Odisha and Hrudayara Debata” was created by her narrating displaying the example of worthy life amidst the experiences of Chambal Valley Mission. enormous onerous obstacles. “Amruta Anubhab” was dedicated with the philosophy of Vinoba Bhave. She has also written a number of books narrating her experiences Prabhat Kumar Nanda, Atithya, MIG-I-227, Satyasai during freedom movement. She also translated a Enclave, Kolathia, At/Po- Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar- number of writings of Mahatma Gandhi in Odia. 751030, [email protected] 47.

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