Bhakta Kavi Madhusudan Rao (1852 – 1912 CE) was the first eminent poet of the modern Odia poetry. He joined the Brahmo Samaj (founded by Raja Rammohan Roy in 1828) in his youth. In Odisha, he began his literary career as an essayist and translator in Utkal Darpan. Subsequently, he published Kavitavali, a collection of poems (two volumes) in association with Radhanath Roy. Among the best poetic compositions of Madhusudan Rao are: Risiprane Debabatarana, Bichhede, Sundara Sansara and Himachale Udaya Utsaba.
India’s encounter with the West, especially in Bengal, produced two kinds of reactions. The first was a sense of dissatisfaction and a feeling of inadequacy about what one had at home, and therefore, an eager acceptance of the new ideas of humanism and education. The other was to go back to the past, and looking at it with a discerning eye, to rediscover its value and relevance to the present. This latter response expressed itself in the form of a revivalism that was still very sensitive to outside contaminations. The Brahmo movement was, on the whole, more inspired by this type of reaction and it looked at the new restlessness with considerable suspicion. Madhusudan Rao in Odisha identified with this response.
He was sensitive to the changing political and social environment of this time even though his ultimate concern was the Supreme Self (Bhagavan) alone. His poems like Bharata Bhabana, Janmabhumi and Bharata Bandana are some of the finest expressions of love for the motherland and her freedom.
Poems of Kavi Madhusudan Rao are full of natural images like that of the lotus, the river, the sky, the six seasons of the year and so on; there is also a soliloquy on the impermanence of life. In his poetic canvas there is place only for god and not for man. He does speak of humanity in one of his poems, but more as an abstraction. His odes are some of the best ones in Odia literature.
A Poem of Kavi Madhusudan Rao
Prabhat (Dawn)
It’s the time of a new morn, in a delightful song, partake.
Flowers are blooming, a gentle breeze is blowing.
Coming from where ? The Dawn brought what magic wonder?
Sky and Earth fills with sounds of great mirth.
Birds are singing, songs so charming,
My heart begins to dance, with the songs, on hearing.
With the birds, Children sing in happy chorus,
In your hearts remember the Creator, Father of the
Universe.
Sandhya (Dusk) Poem Of Bhakta Kavi Madhusudan Rao
The nocturnal queen has come, in black, attired.
As they fly back to their nests, each alone.
The cattle, to their sheds, are returning.
Is returning home joyfully singing.
Enveloping, water, land, hills and gardens.
One by one, in the sky are twinkling.
In this world there is no living sound to harken.
Everyone desirous of repose, they harbor.
Leading humanity to close its eye lid.
Oh ! Children, please count the name of this Almighty.
Saying, “Creator of the Universe”, Praise Him, Praise Him.