Born :- 27-Jun-1887
Died :- 12-Feb-1926
Place of Birth :- Biraharekrushnapur, Sakhigopal, Puri

Famous historian Pandit Krupasindhu Mishra was born at Bira Harekrishnapur in Puri district on 27 June, 1887. He represented a remarkable phase of historiography which, though nationalistic in tone and temper, was responsible for changing colonial perception of Odisha history. He believed that one must have a thorough knowledge of his past to build a successful future and one is conscious about their glorious past, it makes them feel proud and patriotic.

Krupasindhu got his education from Ravenshaw Collegiate School and Ravenshaw College with Philosophy as Honours. Then he passed MA in Philosophy from Calcutta University in 1914. An associate of Gopabandhu, NIlakantha and Acharya Harihara, he joined as an Assistant teacher in Satyabadi Bana Bidyalaya and in 1919 he was Headmaster of the school till 1926.

Pandit Krupasindhu had great appreciation for historical researches and his first article titled Prachya Bhukhandara Abhyutthana appeared in Utkala Sahitya (12/6, 1909). While a student in Calcutta University he had a large number of publications in Odia which were on history and philosophy. His insightful and critical essay titled Kabita (Poetry) was published in Mukura (5/7 and 8). His more interesting article on Barabati was also serialised in Mukura in 1914 which was a masterpiece of Odisha history and culture. It was published in the form of a book in 1917 and was highly appreciated by Fakir Mohan Senapati. The monumental worksof Pandit Krupasindhu like Konarka and Utkala Itihasa made significant contributions to Indian historical studies in vernacular language. His Konarka was an outstanding contribution to Odisha history and culture. His interesting essays in Satyavadi also articulated his deep knowledge on Odisha History and Culture. The History of England of Krupasindhu written in 1920 was modelled to suit the school students.

Krupasindhu devoted from 1916 to 1925 for a comprehensive history of Odisha (Utkal Itihas) after going through the works of Jadunath Sarkar and many other colonial historians like A. Stirling and Hunter. If published in full, it would have 1372 pages but only a truncated form containing 343 pages was published by Cuttack Trading Company only after his death.

By 1917 Krupasindhu was associated with historical debates in Utkala Sahitya Samaj, Cuttack where he presented many interesting historical essays like his study on the port of Chelitalo. He was also an important member of the Historical Investigation Society (Itihasa Anusandhana Samity) of the Utkala Sahitya Samaj, which was active under the chairmanship of Jogesh Chandra Roy Vidyanidhi and was responsible for highlighting several historical sources and exploring archaeological sites.

This organisation was active for more than two years and Krupasindhu, as a member, had huge collections on Puri district. The other members included, among others, Sadasiva Kavyakantha, Biswanath Rath, Jagabandhu Singh, Chintamani Acharya, Gopal Chandra Praharaj, Madhusudan Dash, Mrutyunjaya Rath and Pandit Arttatrana Mishra.

His most famous historical essay which appeared in Mukura was his article on Rajabhakti which was a critical evaluation of Aabaahana of Satchidananda Tribhuvana Deb of Bamanda. This historical poem on Odia cultural identity was well appreciated by Krupasindhu.

In 1921 Pandit Krupasindhu was the assistant editor of Samaj when Acharya Harihara was the editor in the absence of Gopabandhu Das. Mahatma Gandhi during his visit to Odisha was impressed with the activities of Krupasindhu in Satyabadi Bana Bidyalaya.

We have an interesting account on Krupasindhu in the pioneering work of Chintamani Das— Aitihasika Krupasindhu—which is a biography worth reading. Recently Krupasindhu came to focus more by the translation into English of Konarka by his own relation Sudhansu Sekhar Rath.

For all his historical essays and books on Odisha history and culture as well as his contributions for the development of the open air school at Satyabadi, Pandit Krupasindhu Mishra needs a thorough study by the historians.

Pandit Mishra had kept himself away from publicity, power or wealth and though was highly educated and had many lucrative career offers he preferred to work for the people and sacrificed everything for the nation.

History