Know about the Father of Library Movement in Odisha

Dasarathi Patnaik (Dasia Aja) can be rightly designated as the father of library movement in Odisha. As his life’s only ambition and mission was to create awareness among the people of our state regarding the necessity of libraries. Late Dasharathi Pattanaik was born on 12 July 1907 in a little known village namely Udaypur in the district of Nayagarh. By his sheer will power and sincere effort he could be able to keep his foot print in the literary and cultural fields of Odisha overriding the iron barriers of little education, economic scarcity and underdeveloped rural atmosphere.

The seed of Library were shown in his mind by his school teacher, then he set up 5 books in a trunk. At the age of 50years, he bequeathed his farm land to his wife and mother and travelled across odisha looking for books, magazines antiques and other collectibles.  He became an icon, his attire-a loincloth, his bare chest covered by a shawl laid on his shoulder a a turban - became a trademark. He used to travel place to place for searching of rare matterials and items. His mild and pleasant demeaner attracted everyone and soon he was known as "Dasia Aja" to all. (Note: "Aja" is a odia term which means "Nana" in hindi and "Maternal-grandfather" in english)

In stead of indulging his 90 years span of life in family affairs he had preferred to include himself among innumerable elites, poets, writers, bureaucrats and politicians of Odisha and in course of time had become their beloved “Dasia Aja” from Dasharathi Pattanaik. The power and continuous endeavor of “Dasia Aja” could able to establish the following institutions where Scholars of repute across the world visited. These places are also becoming tourist places under odisha tourism.

1. “Banchhanidhi Pathagar” an excellent library in which he has preserved more than 50 (fifty) thousand books in different languages, 65 (sixty five) thousand magazines and periodicals. there are also 5 (five) thousand palm leaf manuscripts which are in fact more than 100 years old. know more on 

(https://odishatour.in/udayapur-library-nayagarh/) 

or (https://nayagarh.nic.in/tourist-place/udayapur-library/)

2. "Sri Aurobindo Sangrahalay" (a nice museum) which has housed rare collections of old records and valuable letters of distinguished personalities. There are over 42 (forty two) sections in this museum. The foremost and exceptional collections preserved in the museum are (1) Radiating soil of Hiroshima city of Japan after 2nd World War (2) Fragmented pieces of Berlin wall of Germany (3) Soil Collected from surface of moon and (4) fossils of Dinosaur.(5)The Art and craft gallery adores old art and craft pieces like Patta paintings, contemporary paintings and also rare sculptures. (6)The armoury section contains cannons, swords etc. from medieval to modern times.

 

3. “Jadumani Sahitya Sansad’ named after the great Odia poet Jadumani which holds cultural and literary conferences, seminars, exhibitions and honours distinguished persons of the State in the fields of art, culture, literature and social service etc.

A rare video of Dasia Aja reading newspaper using a lance glass