KUNTALA KUMARI SABAT

Born on February 1, 1901, Kuntala Kumari Sabat was an eminent poet and novelist.She died in August 23, 1938. She was born at Jagadalpur in Bastar region. Her parents were Daniel Sabat and Monica.

She wrote both in Hindi and Oriya. She came out with a volume of Hindi
poems entitled Baramala. She also acted as editor of several Hindi periodicals such as Mahabir, Jeevan and Nari Bharati. Kuntala Kumari was honoured with the title "Utkal Bharati" by the Mahila Bandhu Samiti of Puri in 1925 and was elected president of All India Aryan Youth League
in 1930. In addition to a large number of poems that she wrote during her creative career spanning about fifteen years, Kuntala Kumari wrote five
novels between 1923 and 1933. She was a staunch defender of women's freedom and a firm believer of Gandhian principles. Her poems and
novels reflect her deep sense of patriotism as well as her profound concern for such problems as the lack of education, child marriage, casteism,
untouchability and discrimination against women. Kuntala Kumari's five novels are Bhranti, Naa Tundi, Kali Bahu, Raghu Arakhita and Parasmani.
Although Kuntala Kumari had a brief span of life time of thirty eight years, her creations outlived her to pioneer the cause of rooting out British misrule in India. She composed beautiful numerous patriotic poems and songs. Her
first collection of poems came out in 1922. Then it was followed by 'Uchhwas' - 1924, 'Archana' - 1927, 'Sphulinga' - 1929, 'Ahwan' - 1930, 'Prem Chintamani' - 1930, 'Oriyanka Kandana' - 1937, 'Garjat
Krishaka' - 1939. Her live for man, nature and nation is reflected in her poems. She had a deep hatred for superstitions and conventions, raised her
voice against high and mighty.Although Kuntala Kumari had a brief span of life time of thirty eight years, her creations outlived her to pioneer the cause of rooting out British misrule in India. She composed beautiful numerous
patriotic poems and songs. Her first collection of poems came
out in 1922. Then it was followed by 'Uchhwas' - 1924,
'Archana' - 1927, 'Sphulinga' - 1929, 'Ahwan' - 1930, 'Prem
Chintamani' - 1930, 'Oriyanka Kandana' - 1937, 'Garjat
Krishaka' - 1939.

Her live for man, nature and nation is reflected in her poems. She had
a deep hatred for superstitions and conventions, raised her
voice against high and mighty.She always tried to protest
against injustice and inequalities. She renounced the heartless religious dogmas and practices. She comprehends the image of glorious past of
Orissa.

She composed the inaugural song of 'Utkal Sammilani', chaired by Acharya P.C. Roy in 1924. the poems in the anthology 'Archana' echoes the
voice of poor and lowly, the depressed and the marginalized.

In the novel, 'Na-tundi', She expresses real thing of the
land. 'Raghu Arakhit' is one of her most outstanding works. It
narrates the social character regarding marriage, where a
compensation was given to the bride's family.