Tribute to a Prolific Writer & Poet

Bhubaneswar: Senior Sangh Pracharak Harihara Nanda passed away on March 11. Popularly known as Harihar Da, he was the founder of Odia weekly ‘Rashtradeep’. He was an eloquent orator, a prolific writer, poet and an organiser par excellence. He was also Prant Pracharak and Prant Karyavah of Odisha. He breathed his last at Sum Hospital following age-related ailments. He was 84. His body was taken to Utkal Bipanna Sahayata Samiti office where thousands of swayamsevaks and well-wishers paid their homage.

RSS Purva Kshetra Karyavah Shri Gopal Prasad Mohapatra, Utkal Purv Prant Sanghachalak Shri Samir Kumar Mohanty, Sah Prant Karyavah Shri Sudarshan Dash along with thousands of swayasmevaks paid homage to him at UBSS premises.

Harihar Da was born at Baliapati Village near Langaleshwar of Baleshwar, Odisha. He graduated in Science and Law from Kolkata University. After completion of his studies, he became a Sangh Pracharak. After working as a Zilla Pracharak of undivided Cuttack, he assumed the responsibility of ‘Rashtradeep’. He worked for Rashtradeep till 1974. Then he took the responsibility of Prant Karyavah of Utkal Prant. Though during his tenure, Odisha was not considered as a developed Prant as per the RSS working structure, he managed to steer the Sangh very well under the guidance of the then Prant Sanghchalak the late Shri Bhupen Kumar Basu and former Prant Pracharak the late Shri Baburao Paldhikar.

The Sangh was banned on June 26, 1975 following Emergency. Then Harihar Da led underground activities against the Emergency in Odisha. He was given with the responsibility of Prant Pracharak when Shri Baburao Paldhikar was shifted to Kolkata as Kshetra Pracharak just after the Emergency. His role as Prant Parcharak was very long and enduring in Odisha where he actually gave shape to the working infrastructure of RSS. He was also given the responsibility of Kshetra Bouddhik Pramukh, Kshetra Prachar Pramukh followed by Akhil Bharatiya Sanyojak of Hindu Jagaran Samukhya. Even if he was relieved of his responsibility as Akhil Bharatiya Sanyojak of HJM, he was providing required guidance to the working of RSS Odisha.

He translated the most popular book ‘Bunch of Thoughts’ as ‘Chinta Chayan’ written by the late Shri HV Seshadri in Odia. Among his other literary works was the Odia translation of ‘Na Phool Chadhe Na Deep Jale’ popularly named as ‘Apuja Dian’. ‘Deshara Hatya’, ‘Mopla’, ‘Sangh Parichaya’, Odia translation of ‘Dashavtar’ by Babasaheb Apte, ‘Lokasangraha’ by Bhausaheb Bhuskute, ‘Sangh Vividh Kshetra and Tribidha Pathya’ by Dattopant Thengadi and ‘Shri Guruji Charita’ by Ranga Hari are his most engaging works. His writing on ‘Harihara Nandanka Bharmana Kahani’ is considered to be the most appealing travelogue in Odia. He has also compiled the ‘Sant Vani’, an episodic compilation of inspiring stories. His numerous patriotic songs are very popular among the swayamsevaks and outside. He contributed immensely towards the intellectual discourse on nationalism. A multi-volume unpublished book called ‘Ma Narmade’ is also attributed to his pen.