Born :- 15-Feb-1906
Died :- 28-Oct-1994
Place of Birth :- Bairoi, Gobindapur, Cuttack

Ramakrushna Nanda was a writer, an educator and an author of children's literature. He is famous for his monthly children’s magazine ‘Samsar’as well as for his most popular lyrical prayer song ‘Ahe Dayamaya Biswa Bihari’ sung by schoolchildren in their prayer classes. This song was included in his Odia-language textbook ‘Sahitya Sopana’.

Ramakrushna Nanda was born to father Madhusudan Nanda of village Bairoi in Govindpur under Cuttack district. He married Soudamini Devi in 1925 and had eight daughters and one son. Nanda's elder brother was Balakrushna Nanda (teacher) and younger brothers were Radhakrushna Nanda, an eminent playwright-cum-artist and owner of the Ichhapur Jatra Mandali. He wrote many plays and Niyati songs. Dinakrushna Nanda was his youngest brother.

His son is Er Prabhat Kumar Nanda, a retired Chief Engineer (RWSS). His daughter-in-law is Smt Anasuya Nanda, who is an eminent writer and singer. She currently edits the ‘Samsar’.

Ramakrushna got his education at Kantapada, and at the Revenshaw Collegiate School, Cuttack. He wrote for the school magazine, ‘Chandrika’. During the Freedom Movement, he was inspired by Utkalmani Gopobandhu, dropped out of school and became a volunteer. He stayed at the “Alkasrama’. Later he continued his studies at Satybadi Bana Bidyalaya. He matriculated from an English medium school and later did his graduation.

Ramakrushna began his career as a teacher at Banki. Then, for six years, he was an assistant teacher at Baripada high school. In 1933, he became a social worker. He began a local welfare organisation called ‘Narayan Samiti’. He was also headmaster at Bhingarpur high school.

Ramakrushna Nanda's first textbook in the Odia language was ‘Sahitya Sopana’. In 1946, he left his job and came back to Cuttack, having his own residence in Telenga Bazar. On 21 July, 1947, he set up the Parijata press. But it was closed down under circumstances. In August 1952, he set up the ‘Samsar Press’ and started publishing the ‘Samsar’ magazine. After retirement, he wrote children's books and songs. He has made immense contribution to Odia children’s literature for which he was honoured with the Odisha Sahitya Academi Award.

His works include: Tulsidas (1930), Tulsidas Dohabali (1931), Pratidhwani (1933), Sahitya Sopana (1934-37), Sahitya Bodha (1938), Rachna Darpana (1940), Patha Sopana (1944 – 45), Sangram O Sadhana (Part 1 and Part 2: 1936–46), Don Quixoti ( Translation: 1948), Bigyanara Kuhuka (1949), Biswa Parichaya (Oriya Bhasa Kosha: 1962), Jibana Taranga (1969), Jhumuka (1975),  Chaati Gacha series (Athara Phula, Kodie Phula, Baisi Phula, Teisi Phula, Chabisi Phula, Subarna Seu, Marana Doli, Sagara Kanya: 1977–84), Oriya Sishu sahitya and sangita Sankalana (1982), Prakrutira Galpapuri (1982), Indradhanu (translation), 1983 – Ama Bana Jangala Katha (translation), 1983 – Ama Sarira (translation: 1982), Suna Pahacha (1984), Ama Jatiya Pasu, Jatiya Pakhi (1984), Ama Jatiya Pataka O Jatiya Sangita, Jatiya Puspa O Jatiya Pratika  (1985),  Jibana Rahasya (1986), Ratna Pakhuda (Part 1 and Part 2: 1988), Satra Phula (1989), Adekha Banara Phula (1989), Pachatantra Kahani (Part 1, 2 and 3: 1989), Lekhanira Pathasala (1992), Bhabi Dekhantu (1993), Tuntunira Bahi (1994), Biswa Parichaya (2nd edition: 1994).

Poems

Prayer