Fakir Mohan Senapati, who
passed away on 14 June 1918, aged 75, in Balasore, Odisha, was an Indian
writer, poet, philosopher and social reformer. He is often referred to
as Utkala Byasa Kabi (Odisha’s Vyasa). He is regarded as the
father of Odia nationalism and modern Odia literature. He played a leading role
in establishing the distinct identity of Odia language. He is known to have
introduced novel writing, short story, and autobiography genres in Odia
literature. Chha Maana Atha Guntha (translating into English
as ‘Six Acres and a Third’) is the first Indian novel written by him in
Odia to deal with the exploitations of landless peasants by the feudal Lord. It
was written much before the October revolution of Russia or much before the
emerging of Marxist ideas in India. His “Rebati” (1898)
is widely recognized as the first Odia short story. He wrote a long
poem, Utkala Bhramanam, that first appeared in 1892.
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