Songs of Soil

Padma Shri Haladhar Nag, an unschooled poet, balladeer, minstrel, and troubadour is a living legend and an icon of Sambalpuri-Koshali folk literature of Western Odisha in India. He is affectionately called Lok Kavi, the People's Poet. For his contribution to culture and education, he was awarded India's fourth highest civilian honour in 2016. He has written more than a thousand poems including several epic poems. At 70, he still writes prolifically and travels and sings his songs with zest and panache. This book presents a translation of four of his most popular poems- Dhado Bargach (Ancient Banyan Tree), Aamar Gaanr Masan Pada (Our Village Graveyard), Kamdhenu, and Chaitar Sakal (A Spring Morning) - along with a reader's appreciation to share with non- Sambalpuri-Koshali speakers and readers the beauty, magic, and joy of Haladhar's poetry. Why have these four poems been specifically chosen for this book for translation and discussion? Firstly, these poems are not overtly religious, but fundamentally secular and universal in their theme and style. 'Ancient Banyan Tree' and 'A Spring Morning' are pastoral or nature poems painting a kaleidoscopic picture of village life through nature. 'Our Village Graveyard' and 'Kamdhenu' are didactic poems, both ending with a moral, but the former is also a pastoral poem. The tone and tenor of his religious poems are different from that of these four poems. For example, the poet's longest poem 'Sri Samlei' is a prayer to Samaleshwari, a manifestation of Durga and the presiding deity of Sambalpur and western Odisha. His other epic poem Mahasati Urmila is based on Ramayan. Secondly, these four poems present a snapshot of the bard's poetic genius. This book purports to present to non-Sambalpuri-Koshali speakers and readers a glimpse of Haladhar's contribution to the folk songs and oral literature through a discussion of these four poems. Haladhar Nag represents a world where poetry is co-created by the community naturally and unselfconsciously; instantly shared and enjoyed. No individual copyright, no publisher, no printer. Creation and consumption of poetry is a public, community activity; not private and individual. Poetry is deftly and inextricably woven into the tapestry of daily life and routine activities. Words, phrases and idioms sprout from the daily humdrum of existence, grow, blossom and spread their delicate fragrance imbuing life, howsoever stark and difficult, with joie de vivre.