Birendra Kumar Bhuyan

Birendra Kumar Bhuyan was an Indian writer, poet and lyricist in the Odia literature.

Birendra Kumar Bhuyan
Birendra Kumar Bhuyan
Born	25 July 1933 Nilapada, Odisha
Died	19 June 1991 (aged 57) Netaji Nagar, Cuttack, Odisha
Occupation	Writer, poet, lyricist
Language	Odia
Nationality	Indian
Spouse	Shubhashini Bhuyan
Relatives	Sushila Devi (Aunt) Freedom Fighter

Birendra has contributed to Odia literature by writing several national award-winning books and songs in Odisha.

Early life

Birendra Kumar Bhuyan was born on 25-July-1933 to Balaram Bhuyan and Sulochana Devi in Nilapada, a small village on the bank of the Birupa, a tributary of the river of Mahanadi in that time Jajpur a sub-division in the district of Cuttack. He was a very hard working person from his childhood and grew up having a dream in his eyes to do something for his state and the people of Odisha. During his time there was no connectivity of road to his village, and due to lack of funds, he was unable to cross the river by boat so he would swim across the river to go to school. But there was an incident which changed his life. When Birendra was 13 years old, his Father died due to some health issue. His mother was his prime inspiration. After that Birendra stayed in his maternal uncle's house to complete his schooling. But after his father's death he couldn't concentrate on studies and left home. He went to Kashi, Brindavan and Mathura in order to become a monk. In Mathura he came across a Monk whose advice changed his mind and gave new focus towards life. He came back and completed his matriculation from Indupur High School. He had completed his bachelors and Masters after that. He had seen a dream to serve the poor people of Odisha which motivated him to join the Government of Odisha service in the field of administration.

Career

He started writing from 1951 and had shown his excellence in the field of Odia Literature in just 40 years i.e. till 1991. He was noted primarily as a major writer in Oriya, for his understanding of rural and ethnic myths and situations, especially on village life of Odisha, original imagery, humanistic outlook, his command over Oriya diction and idiom. His main area of focus was children's literature. He had written many popular Odia songs out of which in 1965 "Eka K eKa", "Joutuka Deiparibini", Jataka Padichhi Raja Jataka","Kalasha Upare Amba Dalia Gori Kanyaku Bara Kalia"which were sung by many famous singers of Odisha like Akshaya Mohanty, Bhikari Bal, and Mohammed Sikander Alam.Many of his compositions had already been broadcast from Akashvani Cuttack.

He had written many books and had won several state and national awards for his work. He was also a lyricist in All India Radio, Cuttack..His book "Lakhmi Nandan" for neo literates was awarded with the 27th National Award by Human Resource Development Department of Government of India.For his contributions towards Odia Children Literature, he was awarded Mina Bazar Award by Prajatantra Prachar Samiti founded by Dr.Harekrushna Mahatab.

Apart from literature world he also had proven himself as a strict Administrative Officer. His first posting was in Talcher where he worked in Adult Education department of Govt.Of India. He also had worked in different places e.g. Raruan, Narasighpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Nilagiri, Kamakhya Nagar, Dhenkanal, Tureikela, Talcher, Korei, Suanpatna, Kendujhar and Kotagada. He had done many significant jobs for the people of Odisha during his tenure in various parts of Odisha he was posted. He couldn't complete his service and died just before his retirement from service on 19-June-1991 at the age of 57 years.

Family

Sushila Devi with Gandhi during Freedom Fight of India

He was married to Shubhashini Bhuyan in 1956. He has two sons, Subhendra and Satyendra and three daughters, Jayasri, Gitisri and Padmasri. His Aunt Sushila Devi popularly known as Singha Jhia Sushila (Daughter of Leo) was a freedom fighter during the Indian independence movement and was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi.

Bibliography

• Kete Je Pakhi
• Kete Je Fula
• Bagala Baguli
• Kunmuni
• Lakhmi Nandan
• Hati O Maduka Katha
• Gadia Ganga
• Dhanya Se Jhhia
• Kete Jati Fala
• Bana Raijara Katha
• Bhabana ra swara, an anthology of various forms of Poems is published after his death.

References