Gangadhar Meher
by Madhusudan Pati

Gangadhar Meher (1862-1924) is well-known all over Orissa as Swabhaba Kabi, a 'born genius', for his poetry that is delightfully direct, spontaneous and full of natural grace. Meher's oeuvre is immense, characterized by a wide range of formal and tonal variations. His long epic narratives, namely Tapaswini, Pranaya Ballari and Kichaka Badha have been regarded as classics of Oriya poetry. Gangadhar Meher: Selected Works is a volume of translation of Meher's major works. It is a collaborative venture of eight ardent readers of the poet, combining readerly sensitivity and creative verve. Of these linguistic and cultural mediators many are distinguished teachers of English and critics, and the others are eminent creative writers in Oriya and English.