Bhadrak: For Bhadrak poet Baidhar Nayak, rural life has always been full of thrills — dust-ridden village streets, twittering of home-bound birds in the evenings, farmers returning home carrying farm tools, pastoral songs of cowherd boys, the intoxicating smells of the earth after the first shower of rain, reciting of the Bhagwat Gita from Bhagwat Tungis and evening hymns and ringing of temple bells.
A native of Pamanandapur under Tihidi block, Nayak was born into a lower middle class family. He adores village and rural life. Since childhood, he has a passion for reading stories and poems. From his student days at Krushak Sahajog ME School, Nayak started writing poems.
As he hailed from a lower middle class family, he was not able to pursue higher studies after Plus-II. Thereafter, he took up farming to manage his family. Despite his life’s struggles, he did not distance himself from his creative urge.
He rather sharpened his pen and churned out short stories and comics for children, plays and poems which earned him a name and fame across the state.
Nayak was recognized as a lyricist in Sishu and Kishore Bibhag of All India Radio in 1985. Poems and biographies of great men written by him were published in then popular magazines like Sasar, Minabazar, Biluanana, Ruparanga, Hasabazar, Ama Khabar and Utkalika. Leading newspapers had published scores of his writings.
Besides, books published by him for children and youths included Suna Chadei, Mati Maa Ra Daka, Gotie Gapaku Muthaye Hasa, Sabuthu Mitha and Badalokanaka Adarsha Jibani.
For his literary works, Nayak has been awarded Sishu Sahitya Samman, Ramakrushna Nala Smruti Samman, Utkal Sammilani Samman, Samrat Byasakabi Fakir Mohan Samman.
Even at the old age, he carries on farming and writes poems at night. While his wife stays with him in the village, his two sons are working outside the state. “I will be writing till I breathe my last,” Nayak said with élan.
Nayak’s love for village and contribution to Odia literature are an inspiration for the next generation.
PNN
