Hussain Rabi Gandhi

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Utkala Jyoti

Hussain Rabi Gandhi
Odia
EducationM.A (History), LLB, PhD (Odia literature)
Alma materGangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur University
PeriodLate 20th century
GenresPoetry, short story
Literary movementRevolutionary Humanism [2]
Notable worksMukta Purbasha

Galpa SamarahaShabda Brahma

Lokageeta
Notable awardsGangadhar Meher Kabita Saman (2015), Secular India Harmony Award (1993)
SpouseTabasum Amin Sultana
RelativesSayeed Mohammed (grandfather in law)
Mehmood Hussain (younger brother)
Afzal-ul Amin (father-in-law)
Farhat Amin (sister-in-law)
Signature

Hussain Rabi Gandhi (also spelled Hussain Rabigandhi or Husen Rabi Gandhi; 23 April 1948 – 28 January 2023) was an Indian

Gandhi of Korei and was regarded as a bridge between Western Odisha and Coastal Odisha. He also served as Lead Member of Smt. Nandini Satpathy Memorial Trust (SNSMT).[4]

Early life and education

Hussain was born as Sahibzada Fazal e Haq Mohammad Hussain

Tarakote State. His great grandfather was Tajdar e Tarakote Raja Syed Irfan Ali.[6][7] The critically acclaimed film director and author, Mehmood Hussain
was his younger brother.

Gandhi attended school first at Korai ME (Middle English) school and then at Bargarh George high school. Hussain graduated and finished his master's degree in history from Gangadhar Meher College,

Odisha High Court, Cuttack. As he studied in different parts of Odisha, it gave him the opportunity to learn the different dialects prevalent in different regions of Odisha. He later did his PhD in Odia literature from Utkal University in 1990.[8][9]

Career

Gandhi's political career started as early as in his youth days when he was elected as the President of the Students Union at Gangadhar Meher College. He also served as the President of Students Union at L.R law college at Sambalpur.

During the 1969 historic students strike in

strikes all over Odisha and was imprisoned several times for the same. Gandhi also wrote poems to mobilize the students, which earned him the titles of 'Rabi' and 'Gandhi'.[10]

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan during the silver jubilee ceremony of Gangadhar Meher University
.

In 1985 he contested the state assembly elections from Korai constituency under the Jagrat Odisha party formed by the former chief minister of Odisha, Nandini Satpathy.

In 1987

Vishwanath Pratap Singh, the former Prime Minister of India founded the Jan Morcha
(The people's front), Gandhi served as the President of the party's regional youth branch in Odisha.

Under the influence of Biju Patnaik, Hussain joined the undivided Janata Dal in 1988 and was appointed the General secretary of the party by Pattnaik. In the 1989 General elections he was appointed the Vice Chairman of the campaign committee of the Janta Dal and finally in 1990, after the massive victory of the party in the state assembly elections, Hussain was appointed the chairman of Odisha state leather corporation Ltd by Biju Patnaik. During his tenure (1990-1995), he expanded the tannery business and had increased the shoe production by establishing 13 shoe manufacturing units all over Odisha. In December 1997, the Janta Dal was divided and a new political party called the Biju Janata Dal was formed. Hussain was one among the founding members of the party along with Dilip Ray, Bijoy Mohapatra, Prasanna Acharya, Ananga Udaya Singh Deo and Amar Sathpathy. In January 1998 he was appointed the General Secretary of the Biju Janata Dal by the current chief minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik and had served as the party observer for Deogarh and Sambalpur elections.

Gandhi was active in politics as a member of the Biju Janata Dal.[11] Gandhi was also the co-founder secretary of Maulana Azad Multipurpose College, Cuttack. Gandhi appeared as a guest judge in many popular Odia reality TV shows including, Taraang TV's "The Odisha Great Political Circus" and Odisha TV's "Ashaa ra Aloka".

Gandhi was also active in Odia literary scene. He was associated with the movement to revive Revolutionary Humanism in Odia poetry. His published works included poetry collection Mukta Purbasha, Loka Geeta and short story collection Ajira Galpa.[2][1][12] He was appointed the editor of Utkala Prasnga, a cultural monthly published of Government of Odisha in 2010.[13]

Gandhi served as the Vice-President (2005-2008) and then the President of Odisha Sahitya Akademi from 28 May 2008 to 27 May 2010.[14] During his term the Odisha Sahitya Academy celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 22 districts of Odisha.

Personal life

Gandhi married Tabasum Amin Sultana, the eldest daughter of veteran Congress leader and social worker, Afzal-ul Amin and the granddaughter of the notable educationist and freedom fighter from Cuttack, Sayeed Mohammed.

Books

Kabya

Gandhi authored 23 books including :

  • Mukta Purbasa (1983)
  • Singhasana Bhangiba Ra Karjyakrama (1999)
  • Hussain Rabi Gandhinka Lokageeta (1985)
  • Niyanta Ratira Swapna (1999)
  • Binsa Ru Ek Binsa (2007)
  • Shabda Brahma (2006)
  • Lokageeta o anyanya kabita (2011)
  • Karna
  • Srestha Kabita (2007)
  • Srestha Kabita Utarparba (2014)
  • Nijaku Khojuthiba Bele (2013)
  • Hajijaithiba Manisa (2018)
  • Punsacha Salabega (2017)
  • Pragatisila Kabita (2010)
  • Kabi Manasare Gandhi
  • Gandhi Kabita Sankalana
  • Galpika Dayanidhi Mishranka Galpajagat
  • Lokageeta (2nd vol) (2020)
  • Punascha Salabega (2nd Vol) (2020)
  • Mukta Purbasa (2nd Vol) (2021)

Story

  • Ajira Galpa
  • Galpa Samaraha (was included in +2 M.I.L (Odia) Syllabus.)

Gandhi also translated the Hindi novel "Rani Laxmi Bai" into Odia which was later published by National book trust of India in the year 2012.

Notable awards

  • Gangadhar Meher Kabita Samman
  • Secular India Harmony Award
  • Bartika Samman
  • Gokarnika Puraskar
  • Nayagarh Zilla Lekhak Parishad Kabita Puraskar
  • Khurda Jilla Lekhak Parishad Kabita Samman
  • Roupya Jayanti Kabita Purasakar
  • Chalapatha Sahitya Puraskar
  • Nilachakra Samman
  • Nilashoka Samman
  • Baishakhi Sahitya Samman
  • Bhimabhoi Samman
  • Byasangar Press Forum Sambardhana
  • Sahitya Darpan Samman

Death

Gandhi died on 28 January 2023, at the age of 74.

Governor of Odisha, Ganeshi Lal said "I am deeply saddened by the death of noted poet, orator and politician Hussain Rabi Gandhi. His contribution to the enrichment of Odia literature is unbelievable."[16][17]

Gandhi's last rites were held at Qadam e Rasool, Cuttack and was attended by several prominent personalities including, Subhash Chandra Singh, Bhabani Shankar Dayani, Pravat Biswal, Munna Khan, Prafulla Samal among others.[18]

While Manas Mangaraj, Prasanna Kumar Patasani, Sujeet Kumar, Pratap Jena, Naba Das, Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra, Ramesh Chandra Majhi, Shashi Bhusan Behera, Sarmistha Sethi, Bhajaman Behara, Dinesh Sarangi, Tathagata Satpathy and other leaders reached out to the family to pay their condolences. Many Odia writers opined that Gandhi's death marked the end of the Salabega age of Odia literature.[19]

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ . Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  2. ^ . Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Gāndhī, Husen Rabi 1948- [WorldCat.org]". WorldCat.org. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Odisha Sahitya Akademi". odishasahityaakademi.org. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  5. . Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  6. ^ Rāẏa, Bhabānī Caraṇa (1981). Orissa Under the Mughals: From Akbar to Alivardi : a Fascinating Study of the Socio-economic and Cultural History of Orissa. Punthi Pustak.
  7. ^ "Muzammil Hussain". geni_family_tree. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Hussain Rabi Gandhi « Kalinga Literary Festival". Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  9. ^ Encyclopaedia of Indian literature. v.2: Devraj to Jyoti. 1 November 1989.
  10. ^ 4.pdf
  11. ^ Pioneer, The (25 March 2020). "Hussain Rabi Gandhi joins BJD". The Pioneer. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Poets translating Poets". Essays - Goethe-Institut. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Writer Hussain Rabi Gandhi joins BJD in Odisha". Sambad English. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Odisha Sahitya Akademi". Odisha Sahitya Akademi. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  15. ^ "Renowned Litterateur Hussain Rabi Gandhi Passes Away". The News Insight. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  16. ^ ANI; ANI (29 January 2023). "Odisha CM condoles death of veteran leader, writer Hussain Rabi Gandhi". ThePrint. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  17. ^ "Odisha: Noted writer Hussain Rabi Gandhi dies at 75 | Bhubaneswar News - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. 29 January 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Noted litterateur Hussain Rabi Gandhi passes away". Argus News. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Renowned Litterateur Hussain Rabi Gandhi No More; Odisha CM Expresses Grief". odishabytes. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.

External links

Media related to Hussain Rabi Gandhi at Wikimedia Commons