Radha Mohan Gadanayak-ରାଧାମୋହନ ଗଡ଼ନାୟକ(Odia) (1911–2000) was an Indian poet of Odia literature, known for his ballads and poetic creations.^[1] The poet, considered by many as one of the major Odia poets of this century,^[2] was a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award, which he received, in 1975, for his poem anthology, Surya O Andhakar.^[3] The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri in 1990.^[4]

Biography

Gadanayak was born in August 1911 in Kalandapal, a small village in the periphery of Angul town in the Indian state of Odisha, to Mahadeva Gadnayak and Golakamani Devi.^[1] He was involved with the Indian freedom struggle from an early age and became associated with the Satyagraha movement of Mahatma Gandhi at the age of 23.^[1] As a poet, he was more inclined to the genre of ballads and composed many ballads on various subjects and people such as Kalidasa and Mohandas Gandhi. His anthology, Surjya O Andhakara won him the Sahitya Akademi Award for Odia literature in 1975.^[3] He also translated Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam into Odia language.^[5] Gopabandhu racanābaḷī, Gaḍanāẏaka granthābaḷī, Kāḷidāsa, Gāndhī gāthā, Kāḷindīcaraṇa parikramā, Hīrākhaṇḍara gāthā, Gopabaṅdhu racanābaḷī, Abācīra tārā and Paśupakshīra kābya are some of his other notable works.^[6]

Gadanayak died on 21 February 2000, at the age of 88,^[1] a decade after he was included by the Government of India in the 1990 Republic Day honours list for the civilian award of the Padma Shri.^[4] His poetry has been subjected to critical review and Gaḍanāẏaka abhinandana grantha, Kābyanāẏaka Gaḍanāẏaka, Rādhāmohana sṛshṭi samīkshā, Kabi Rādhāmohana Gaḍanāẏaka : kr̥ti o kr̥titva and Gaḍanāẏaka parikramā are some of the published studies.^[6] Seashore Sahitya Academy, a Bhubaneshwar based literary forum has set up a library, Radhamohan Gadanayak National Library, in his honour.^[7] His birth centenary was celebrated by Gadanayak Centenary Committee and other organizations.^[8][9] The Committee, in association with Sarala Sahitya Sansad, has instituted an annual literary award, Kavi Radhamohan Gadanayak Centenary Award, in honour of the Odia balladeer.^[8]