Gopabandhu Das : the Lode Star of Idealistic Journalism
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April - 2012 Odisha Review Gopabandhu Das : The Lode Star of Idealistic Journalism Dr Priyadarshi Bahinipati From 1803 to 1866 Orissa presented a dismal movement of the Oriya speaking people prepared picture in every sphere of activity. It was the ground for other regions to put forward similar intellectually and materially backward as not much demands. This modern consciousness inspired progress had been made in the fields of education, nationalism and numerous grievances of the trade, commerce, agriculture. But this period holds people converged on the mainstream of the importance because of the emergence of middle national movement for liberation. class intelligentsia. In the At this critical juncture aftermath of ‘Naanka’ the emergence of famine of 1866, marked Gopabandhu Das on the changes appeared in the scene of Orissa as a crusader socio-political arena. Efforts against socio-political evils were made to establish catapulted the tempo and schools and colleges, tenor of the ongoing improve the means of movement. He epitomized communication and selfless service and dedication transportation which eventually boosted trade and for which within a short span commerce. Printing presses, of time he secured a place journalism and cultural among distinguished Orissa’s associations facilitated freedom fighters and social independent discussions and activists of the time. provided a platform to He was at once a social dabble in. This emergence of reformer, a political activist, a self conscious middle class poet and an essayist, a spearheaded ‘Language columnist and a redactor, an Agitation’. educationist, a legislator, a mass leader, an astute Orissa was a precursor of the evolution diplomat and a dexterous organizer. Having such of Indian Union for it came into being as a linguistic protean attributes and maintaining equilibrium province as early as 1936. This successful between them was an ardous task and can only 19 Odisha Review April - 2012 be possible for such a larger than life figure. Born The journalistic enterprise of Utkalmani and brought up in an era that bears the stamp of was not for the partial fulfillment of his prevailing renaissance and rising nationalism, he found ample circumstantial needs nor was it something opportunities to nurture his reformist and fortuitous or accidental foray into the profession, Samaritan zeal and convivial characteristics. The rather it was a culmination of his long standing journey of such a great soul began in a rustic efforts for the emancipation of the people which surrounding and Spartan background, the sublime overtly reflected his sense and sensibility and spiritualism of Jagannath culture of his provenance concern for a just and equitable society. His socio- left an imprint on him and nurtured his immanent political thought found ample expression in his attributes to bloom forth and made him a master journalism which macadamized his journalistic statesman. endeavour by alchemizing diverse elements active in the socio-political sphere in the march towards Journalism, which have been performing freedom. His penchant for journalism sprouted its task of effective communication through passing early in his youth itself when he tried his hand in information to the recipient in order to stimulate writing pamphlets to edit magazines. Such was their opinion and thought process, got a new his obsession that even in school he incurred meaning in the pre-independent period of troubles in speaking his mind on different issues enslavement, when it was used as an instrument like the one in which he expressed his opinion in to inform and educate the mass to prepare a a magazine Indradhanu on the ongoing ground for them to get rid of the foreign yoke. controversy as to the greatness of Upendra And the baton was in the hands of eminent Bhanja and Radhanath Rai in 1893, for which he personalities who were known for their erudition, was censured. sagacity and fearlessness. In Orissa it made a decent beginning in the nineteenth century with Literature was a part of his life and he the establishment of printing presses. In the was always in search of opportunity to express tumultuous period of eighteenth and nineteenth his mind and heart. And the spread of print media century kit made a steady progress when the during that time provided him that needed socio-political malaises coupled with a series of opportunity. The journalistic traits were ingrained events stirred the mind of the people who urgently in him and he nurtured it and utilized it for social felt the need of a power of expression. The spurt service. He considered it as the most apposite in the activity occurred through the efforts of medium to rouse public opinion. With this in mind missionaries who established printing presses he landed in the field of journalism and started a during this time. The journalistic efforts were no monthly literary magazine in 1915, ‘Satyabadi’. less remarkable as is evident from the activities In it various segments were introduced in which of various persons and personalities of eminence. prominence was given to discussion on important From Kujibara Patrika, Arunodaya, issues, their critical review and in the student’s Gyanaruna, of the early nineteenth century to sections students were also allowed to contribute the Utkal Dipika of the late nineteenth century through writing essays on varied topics in it. The and Asa, the Samaja etc. of the early twentieth development of motherland, mother tongue and century, Orissa witnessed a steady and marked mother literature was the prime concern of progress in journalism. Satyabadi. But he could not remain in content as 20 April - 2012 Odisha Review this could not whetted his appetite of spreading reformative era which was adorned by the titans consciousness among the gullible, ordinary like Tilak, Gokhle, Gandhi, Madhusudan Das, masses. As such he started the weekly Samaja Gourisankar Ray and others, This can be gleaned in 1919. In the words of Godabarish Mishra his from his writing- “ The real condition of the nation intimate colleague “Now a day almost all the is discussed in the Samaja. The genuine wants newspapers have become the mouthpiece of and needs, complaints and accusations which are political parties. This was not the situation in India proper and necessary for the Government to be at the time of birth of the Samaja. Unaware of acquainted with, are all presented in a neutral and any party- political or social Gopabandhu was unbiased manner. Further, the activities, aims and overwhelmed with only one idea that is nation. objectives of the Government were conveyed to To educate the large illiterate mass he felt the need the people in lucid manner. The socio-economic of a proper newspaper. But due to the absence condition, the elementary education, health, local of adequate resources he could not proceed in self government, religious discussions were given that direction. For that reason while staying at special attention in it. The language of the Samaja Satyabadi, he accepted the editorship of Asha is very simple and easily understandable.”4 newspaper published from Berhampur. But by seeing that he could not pursue and achieve his Thus, the basic purpose of his newspaper ambition he started the weekly ‘Samaja’ with a was to act as a link between the people and the little principal sum”.1 government. For the attainment of the goal of Samaja, He put much emphasis on language and Gopabandhu never stayed behind. He had done was of the opinion that there is a relationship yeomen’s service in the field of spread of between language and nationality as literature education among the people. Even if he had contributes a lot for the growth of a nation. Instead undergone a lot pain and punishment under the of the complex style of the time he advocated a foreign regime he never abstained from the path form simple and communicative capable of of his duty. The ideal of his life was the ideal of reaching the high ideas to the common man in the Samaja and his ideal was language of his own. In order to spread his ideas among the masses of Orissa, he first founded the Misu mora deha e desa matire monthly, ‘Satyabadi’ and later the weekly, the Desabasi chali jaantu pithire 2 ‘Samaja’. In the editorial columns of these (Let my body feed the soil of this land, May my countrymen tread on it as they walk.) journals Gopabandhu poured out his soul, his feelings, and his agonies too. The prose he wrote He was of the opinion that truth, clarity, with an inimitable blend of the colloquial and the keen sense of understanding and analytical skills classical, easy flowing, sonorous and rhythmic, were the pre requisite of a journalist. One should reminding the moderns in Orissa of the charm of not be worried about the publication of his articles, the biblical idiom of the Bhagavata of Jagannath instead he should try to reach more and more Das- was a revolution of the nobility which Oriya people concerned with the subject matter of the prose can attain at the touch of a masters spirit.5 report to know the truth.3 Later due to certain difficulties he handed Gopabandhu’s journalism was much in over the reins of Satyabadi Press and the Samaja tune with the characteristics of a revolutionary and to the Servants of Peoples Society in order to 21 Odisha Review April - 2012 secure its future and increase the name and fame He was of the opinion that the leaders of Odisha through this all India organization. should set examples for the people who could Gopabandhu was greatly influenced by follow their words and deeds. There should not Mazzini’s role in Italian Risorgimento. He be contradictions in their behaviours and emulated the Mazzinian means and methods in approach which apparently would send a wrong dealing with the foreign regime.