Swabhaba Kabi Gangadhar Meher

Taken from the web-site on poet Gangadhar Meher launched by Gangadhar Smruti Sadan, Barpali

Acharya Vinoba says :

(Gangadhar Meher College Premises, Sambalpur on Dt. 06-11-1963)

Gangadhar Meher is not a poet of Orissa only, but he occupies a conspicuous place among the poets of all modern Indian languages, He is contemporary to Rabindranath. As far as I am acquinted with Gangadhar's literature, this is my idea and heart-felt conviction that, had he written only one poem named BHAKTI, his poetic creation still have been fruitful. But it is a matter of great regret that Gangadhar is not known to votaries of other Indian languages. The reason is that non-oriyas do not know the Oriya alphabets and it proves a stumbling block to them.

The Samaj (Dt.09-11-1963)

Dr. Keshab Ch. Meher writes:

Gangadhar Meher was a literary Midas, who transformed everything into gold by the alchemic touch of his genius. He was a born poet of delicate charm. His is a clean white style. His poem BHAKTI (The Devotion) bears eloquent testimony to the change in religious outlook. He was essentially a poet of intuition and side by side he had a penetrating insight. Though poor in wealth and education, he was very rich in mind and culture. In almost all his writings we will have at least a glimpse of originality and specialty. But, he had a proverbial poet’s lot like Burns. As is customary in our country, this budding prodigy lacked even bare sustenance. Had this genius been brought up in a congenial atmosphere, he would certainly have contributed much more in quality and quantity.

BHAKTI

The origional Oriya poem in English script

Viswa-Jibana he tumbhanku Karunasindhu
bolibaku mana balunahi jenu
Sindhu taba krupabindu. (0)
Tumbha bhajanare hebinahin natha
mala japibaku badhya. (1)

Dei nahin bala Padadhuli gheni
pariba nahin mo munda,
Koti koti rabi dhuli rupe tumbha
pade hoichchanti runda. (2)
Hrudayara katha janibaku aachhi
tumbhara aseema shakti,
Setiki gheniba jetiki achhi mo
hrude tumbha prati bhakti. (3)
Sthapibaku tumbha murati mo kshudra
hrudaya re nahin sthana,
Sarshapa garave rahi ki parai
Himalaya sanumana? (4)
Ki dei pujibi jaha mu dekuchhi
sabu tumbhari prasada,
Jaha parasada tanku arapile
heba sina aparadha. (5)
Mukara matara mora nuhen boli
kahibaku nahin bata,
Duru shree charane arpana karuchhin
ghena ta Viswa-Samrata. (6)

WORSHIP
Translated from the original in oriya composed by the famous poet Gangadhar Meher.

I will not call Thee an ‘Ocean of Mercy’
O, Lord of all my race!
For what but a drop is the boundless sea
In Thy infinite Grace?
How could I tell, though wrapped in prayer,
My little beads of rosary
When Thine is a million stars shimmering fair
In effulgent pageantry.
Can I be bold as to bow before Thee
And take off the dust from Thy feet?
When it dazzles and holds the land and sea
And the multitudinous world in it.
Thou that seest all things and art wise
And read our hearts as we
Mayest accept as much of worship as lies
In my breast for Thee.
Even do I feel my heart too small
To enshrine Thee therein
Can a tiny mustard seed hold at all
The mighty Himalayas within?
Whatever I wish to offer Thee is Thine
However humble it is
How could I venture worship One
With things that are His?
Thou art the Lord of all things big and small
And Thy praise all-life sing
Nothing in this world is mine at all
Mine own self including.
But what I am and what have
With hope I surrender to Thee
O, Merciful! into Thy Kingdom of Love
Accept and receive me.