Fakir Mohan Senapati and His Contribution to Odia Language
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Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 Fakir Mohan Senapati and His Contribution to Odia Language K. Sudharani Nayak Fakir Mohan Senapati known as the father of Odia participated in the promotion of Odia language nationalism played a significant role in shaping the and literature. language especially at a time when its distinctness Senapati is known as the Father of was questioned. A prolific writer, an ardent lover modern Odisha. He is often seen cited as the of the language, a reformer lived a life on the face literary figure for the vast writing he has accorded of consistent adversity. This article reads his the Odias with. But restricting him only to the autobiography in the pretext of Odia language literary zone would be incorrect. As Sartre argues agitation. It looks at his life narrative to understand “literature is not an innocent and facile lyric the time and the context of the language capable of accommodating itself to any sort of movement. regime, but by its very nature confronts us with Life and Time (1843-1918) the political problem: to write is to demand that all men are free.”6 And simply because Senapati Born in 1843 in Mallikashpur village of was writing at a time when not writing was Balasore, with very little education Fakir Mohan questioned and seen as a problem for one’s Senapati joined as a teacher in the same Barabati identity as number of literature available in a School where he studied.1 Though he topped in language became one of the yardsticks to measure school could not continue his studies as he could the greatness of the language in modern times. not give the required fee and had to leave his Senapati’s Autobiography is the first studies. Senapati had a troubled childhood as he autobiography written in Odia. Along with lost his parents at a very young age and was autobiography he also introduced writing short brought up by his grandmother.2 He got married story and novels to Odia literature. His writings at the age of thirteen to Leelabati Devi and he were on varied subjects covering feudalism, and gives a brief account of how his marriage caused women’s education, challenging the superstitious him more pain than his childhood suffering.3 He conservative thinking, reflecting that was worked as a Dewan in many Feudatory states in happening around then. He is referred as a social Odisha Division under the government of Bengal.4 realist. He is considered as the Premchand of He also worked as an assistant manager in Odisha though he was writing before him. 5 Dhenkanal and as a manager in Keonjhar. He Writing was born in a time when Odisha was under colonial domination. He has seen the great famine of 1865 Writing was a deliberate action on the part and the language movement and actively of Senapati. He started writing in the context August - 2016 61 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review where Odia language was questioned by the Chhamana Athaguntha (Six acres and a third, Bengalis on its distinctness and he was of the view 1902), Mamu (The Uncle, 1913), Lachhama that by reading and writing the language only one (1914) and Prayaschita (Penance). He had written can serve their language. a group of 20 short stories, which were collected together in 1917 in a volume entitled as In the year 1866 he established a printing Galpaswalpa (stories: a few) and an machine in Balasore in the name P. M. Senapati Autobiography called Atmojivan Charita which and Co Utkal Press.7 Two newspapers published was published in 1927 that was more of like a by the aforesaid press were ‘Bodhadayini’ and 8 description of public life rather than a personal ‘Balasore Sambad Vahika’. The former was writing because it provides 200 years history of literature oriented while the latter was news the socio-economic condition of Odisha. oriented. Both of these were published irregularly due to lack of writings.9 Senapati states some forty De-Sanskritization of Odia Language to fifty people were its consumers and hardly ten The most distinguishing part of Fakir people used to pay the price.10 Mohan’s work was his use of language. He Senapati wrote novels, short stories, contributed to the de-Sanskritization of Odia. His autobiography, school textbooks, grammar, and novels and stories and to a large extent his dictionary and translated religious texts. He autobiography set a new and strong trend towards believed writing is corollary to the development the portrayal of social realism.12 His writings of language and development of language is bridged the gap that was there between the earlier corollary to the nation. writings and the common mass since earlier writings were highly sanskritized for the common Senapati’s literary career began as a poet. people to read. Rather he considered the common He translated the Ramayana (1884-1895), the people like peasants, artisans and chose the Mahabharat (1887-1905), and Gita (1887). common everyday speaking language that is the Additionally he wrote a number of short lyrics or chalita bhasa keeping in mind to preserve Odia poems on personal theme and emotions, which as a separate and independent language. Probably were later collected on volumes such as the association of Fakir Mohan Senapati with John Pushpamala (Garland of flowers, 1894), Upahar Beams made a deep impression which made him (Gift, 1895), Abasare Basare (In Retirement, to write in the ‘Chasa’ language.13 1908), and Pujaphula (Flowers of Worship), Prarthana (Prayer) and Dhuli (Dust) which were He started writing to save the Odia published in 1912. He also wrote a long poem identity. By doing so he served two purposes. Firstly, he was trying to establish the colloquial entitled Utkal Bhramana (utkal travel, 1892) which Odia used in the coastal belt of Odisha as the was a literary, cultural and political account of real language and sought to prove that this is where Odisha. He also wrote a Kavya called the real distinction between Odia and Bengali lies Baudhabatara Kavya (1909) based on the life and secondly, he was trying to construct a history and preachings of Gautama Buddha.11 to bring a sense of pride and consciousness among But his real strength in literature for which the Odias and to establish an Odia history.14 he has been noted as a pioneer, was in novel, Equating Language with Nationalism short story and autobiography, all the three genres in Odia literature were introduced by him in For Senapati, nationalism and language Odisha, which gave a distinctively creative shape are interlinked because he believed that to Odia prose. The novels he wrote were nationalism was determined by language. He says 62 August - 2016 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 “I possess strength of both neither body, nor school committee out of which six were Bengalis mind, nor learning, only a constant and ineffectual and he was the only Odia. One day the committee desire to serve Sahitya.”15 He suggests four means was called and accidentally Senapati was not should be taken by the educated people to there. Brundaban Babu, one of the Bengali promote the national literature and that is; “Read colleague proposed before the committee that it and induce others to read it; Write and induce Fakir Mohan should be removed otherwise he others to write it.”16 will walk out of the committee. There occurred To him, the “nation whose language is not an intense situation. The school was running developed is unawakened. It lacks initiative and through charity by both Odias and Bengalis is unable to maintain self-respect.”17 He further equally. If he walks out the Bengalis would stop says “no nation has ever progressed by losing its contributing and if Senapati would be removed mother tongue. The decline and decay of any the Odias will stop donating. Brundaban agreed nation which neglects its mother tongue is to give all the required amount to run the school inevitable.”18 For him, for the advancement of any and hence Senapati was removed from the school. nation, the development of its language and After this the Odias stopped contributing. After literature is fundamental. For Fakir Mohan, a few months of giving, Brundaban Babu stopped 25 nation is identified by the name of its mother contributing and then the school got closed. tongue and national prestige, therefore, depended Senapati also says the nation (referring upon the prestige of the nation’s language and to Indian nation keeping in mind the various literature.19 According to him, prose, fiction, drama language movements especially the Odia-Bengali) and lyrics are important in popularizing one’s is like a Tanpura having several independent and mother tongue. interdependent strings comparable to various Reflection on Odia and Bengali Language regions and languages of India. When these strings Conflict put together they make melodious “Vande Mataram” but if they interfere with each other, While talking about the then time, Senapati there will be no music.26 says then Odia-Bengali conflict was going on. That time in all the government offices, the head He writes in his autobiography, officials were Bengalis.20 Bengalis were trying to “For giving speeches in different make Bengali the official language replacing meetings, for my writings in Sambad Odia.21 Whenever there is a vacancy, the Bengalis Vahika and for debating out in the would try anyhow to appoint their brethrens.22 open, I have become the major There was not a single Odia in the public offices enemy of the Bengalis. They hate me and in the postal department.23 so much that they do not call me by Senapati also gives a brief account of a name and named me as salaa ring head landlord named Brundaban Chandra leader.”27 Mandal.