Among the few literary icons who had galvanised people against the British government by their fiery, forceful writings, Banchhanidhi Mohanty occupies a place of rare distinction. Jatiya Kabi Banchhanidhi Mohanty was born on 20th April 1897 at Raktatirtha Eram, near Basudevpur, in the district of Bhadrak. Eram, a small village situated on the coast of Bay of Bengal, is predominantly inhabitated by the fishing community, farmers and other marginalised sections of the society. These poor unlettered people were severely exploited by the Zamindars. They were exorbitantly taxed and in the event of their inability to pay, ruthlessly tortured. Chintamani Mohanty father of Banchhanidhi Mohanty, vehemently protested against such oppressive measures, for which he too was inhumanly treated. The ignominy suffered at the hands of the Zamindars left him with no other option but to quit his job. He purchased a piece of land at Bankasahi, Bhadrak and built a house thereon. Here he started his profession as “Moharir” besides providing better education for his children. After creditably passing matriculation from Bhadrak High School in 1912, Banchhanidhi Mohanty passed F.A.(Intermediate) from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack. During this period he got himself associated with various student agitations and vowed to liberate motherland India from the clutches of alien rule. Here he came in close contact with Kabimanjula Krushna Prasad Basu, his hostel-mate. Know More