Ramakrushna Nanda (15 February 1906 – 28 October 1994) was an Indian writer, educator and author of

children's literature Children's literature or juvenile literature includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are created for children. Modern children's literature is classified in two different ways: genre or the intended age of the reader. Children's ...

. He composed the song '' Ahe Dayamaya Biswa Bihari'', a favourite of

Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; ; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist Quote: "... marks Gandhi as a hybrid cosmopolitan figure who transformed ... anti- ...

when Gandhi was at Sabarmati Ashram. This song was included in his Odia-language textbook ''Sahitya Sopana''.Mishra A. R
"Rare interview with Dinakrushna Nanda."
Odissa.com website. Accessed (in English) 31 December 2013.

Biography

Family

Nanda's father was Madhusudan Nanda (d. 1892). His mother died in 1951. In 1925, Nanda married Soudamini Devi (d. 13 August 1988). They had eight daughters and one son. Nanda's elder brother was Balakrushna Nanda (teacher) and younger brothers were Radhakrushna Nanda (an eminent Drama writer cum artist and owner of Ichhapur Jatra Mandali, writer of many drama books and Niyati songs) and Dinakrushna Nanda. His son is Er Prabhat Kumar Nanda, a retired Chief Engineer (Water Resources Dept) and was also Member OPSC. His daughter-in-law is Smt Anasuya Nanda, who is an eminent writer and singer. She is the editor of the Odia Children's magazine Sansar (founded by Ramakrushna Nanda).

Education

Nanda was born at Bairoi village of Cuttack District in Odisha and educated in the village of Kantapada, and at the Ravenshaw collegiate school, Cuttack. He wrote for a school magazine, ''Chandrika''. At the time of

Independence of India The Indian independence movement was a series of historic events with the ultimate aim of ending British Raj, British rule in India. It lasted from 1857 to 1947. The first nationalistic revolutionary movement for Indian independence emerged ...

, Nanda was inspired by a local leader, Gopobandhu and became a ''Swecha Sebaka'', a volunteer. He stayed in ''Alkasrama,''until continuing his studies at Satybadi Jatiya Bidyalaya, where he learnt ''Devnagiri'', a type of Indian alphabet. Nanda also matriculated from the English medium school and later received a bachelor of education.

Career

Nanda began his career as a teacher at Banki school. He was then, for six years, an assistant teacher at Baripada high school. In 1933, Nanda became a

social worker Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social work ...

. He began a local welfare organization called ''Narayan Samiti''. He was also a headmaster at Bhingarpur high school.

Writing

Nanda's first textbook in the

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 ...

language was ''Sahitya Sopana''. In 1946, he left his job and came back to Cuttack. On 21 July 1947, Nanda opened Parijata press. In August 1952, he began the ''Sansar'' magazine. The press closed in 1961. In retirement, Nanda wrote children's books and songs. Of the form ''nanabaya'', (nonsense rhyme), Nanda said," :"Unintelligibility or irrelevance does not reduce the value of ''nanbaya''. The rhythm and style is unique. Sometimes the meanings are unclear or impossible to ascertain. In English, some of these rhymes are called 'nonsense' or meaningless rhymes. By defying the metrical prescriptions and grammatical conventions, the spontaneity of these rhymes endear themselves to children."

Lyricist

Nanda's lyrics for ''Aahe Dayamaya Bishwa Bihari'' and ''Holi Holi Re Holi Ranga Rangeli Nali.'' were used in the 1978 film, ''Balidaan'' .

Bibliography

* 1930 – Tulsidas * 1931 – Tulsidas Dohabali * 1933 – Pratidhwani * 1934 – 37 – Sahitya Sopana * 1938 – Sahitya Bodha * 1940 – Rachna Darpana * 1944 – 45 – Patha Sopana * 1936–46 – Sangram O Sadhana (Part 1 and Part 2) * 1948 – Don Quixoti ( Translation ) * 1949 – Bigyanara Kuhuka * 1962 – Biswa Parichaya (Oriya Bhasa Kosha) * 1969 – Jibana Taranga.Datta A
"Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo."
Sahitya Akademi, 1987 , 9788126018031. Accessed at Google Books 31 December 2013. * 1975 – Jhumuka * 1977–84 – Chaati Gacha series (Athara Phula, Kodie Phula, Baisi Phula, Teisi Phula, Chabisi Phula, Subarna Seu, Marana Doli, Sagara Kanya) * 1982 – Oriya Sishu sahitya and sangita Sankalana * 1982 – Prakurtira Galpapuri * 1982 – Indradhanu (translation) * 1983 – Ama Bana Jangala Katha (translation) * 1983 – Ama Sarira (translation) * 1984 – Suna Pahacha * 1984 – Ama Jatiya Pasu, Jatiya Pakhi * 1985 – Ama Jatiya Pataka O Jatiya Sangita, Jatiya Puspa O Jatiya Pratika * 1986 – Jibana Rahasya * 1988 – Ratna Pakhuda (Part 1 and Part 2) * 1989 – Satra Phula * 1989 – Adekha Banara Phula * 1989 – Pachatantra Kahani (Part 1, 2 and 3) * 1992 – Lekhanira Pathasala * 1993 – Bhabi Dekhantu * 1994 – Tuntunira Bahi * 1994 – Biswa Parichaya (2nd edition)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nanda, Ramakrushna 1906 births 1994 deaths Indian children's writers Indian male composers Indian music educators People from Cuttack district Writers from Odisha Odia-language writers Recipients of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award 20th-century Indian composers 20th-century Indian writers 20th-century male musicians