Bhima Bhoi (1850–1895) was a 19th-century saint, poet and philosopher from the state of

Odisha Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of Sc ...

in India, most known for his songs on the philosophical aspects of ''Mahima Dharma''. Bhima Bhoi was a ''bhakta'' (

Odia Odia, also spelled Oriya or Odiya, may refer to: * Odia people in Odisha, India * Odia language, an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family * Odia alphabet, a writing system used for the Odia languag ...

: devotee) of Mahima Gosain, the founder of

Satya Mahima Dharma Satya Mahima Dharma (the "dharma of the divine glory") is a religious tradition from Orissa. It goes back to a historic person called Mahima Svami (or Mahima Gosain). He is said to have appeared in Puri in 1826. Dissatisfied with the ritualised i ...

, an Indian religious tradition that challenged the authority of caste and other forms of discrimination.Orissa Review May 2005

Early life

Bhima Bhoi was born in Jatesingha in 1850, though various sources have cited different years as well as different places of birth. Bhima Bhoi's family belonged to the Kondh tribe. Bhoi's family was not well off and by most accounts his early life was not a happy one. His father died when he was quite young. His mother remarried and had children with her new husband soon after.

Notable works

Bhima Bhoi was a popular poet, composer and singer. Humanity and liberation of the world based on the philosophy of ''Mahima Dharma'' were the central theme of his poetic creations. His assertion "mo jeevana pachhe narke padithau, jagata uddhara heu" ''(let my life rot in

naraka Naraka ( sa, नरक) is the realm of hell in Indian religions. According to some schools of Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism, ''Naraka'' is a place of torment. The word ''Neraka'' (modification of ''Naraka'') in Indonesian and Mala ...

if necessary, but let the world be redeemed)'' showcases his dedication to the upliftment of the societally deprived while being a clear reflection of socio-economic conditions in the State, during his lifetime. While scholars have studied the life and poetry of Bhima Bhoi, research chairs have recently been established at Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences - Deemed to be University (in April 2018) and Gangadhar Meher University in 2019, to research the impact of Bhima Bhoi's life and philosophy in Odisha. In honour of Bhima Bhoi, Bolangir Medical College is named Bhima Bhoi Medical College.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhoi, Bhima 1850 births 1895 deaths Hindu poets 19th-century Hindu religious leaders 19th-century Indian musicians 19th-century Indian poets Indian male songwriters Odia-language writers Poets from Odisha People from Sambalpur district Indian male poets 19th-century Indian male writers Hinduism in Odisha 19th-century male musicians Shudra Hindu saints Odia Hindu saints

Early life

Notable works

Further reading

References