Optimalvapors at 17:47, 27 March 2026

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{{short description|Indian author}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2020}}

{{Infobox writer
| honorific_prefix = Kantakabi
| name = Laxmikanta Mohapatra
| image = Laxmikanta Mohapatra 2023 stamp of India.jpg
| image_size =
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| caption = Mohapatra on a 2023 stamp of India
| birth_name = Laxmikaanth Mahapatra
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1888|12|09}}<ref name="Orissa Review August 2006">{{cite web| title=Orissa Review August 2006| website=magazines.odisha.gov.in| url=http://magazines.odisha.gov.in/Orissareview/Aug2006/augreview.htm| access-date=29 June 2020| archive-date=1 August 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801103357/http://magazines.odisha.gov.in/Orissareview/Aug2006/augreview.htm| url-status=live}}</ref>
| birth_place = Bakhrabad Talapada,Tihidi [[Bhadrak, Odisha]], India<ref name="eOdisha.org - Kanta Kabi Laxmikanta Mohapatra">{{cite web | title=Eminent Personality of Odisha -Kanta Kabi Laxmikanta Mohapatra | website=eOdisha.org | date=12 April 2020 | url=https://eodisha.org/kanta-kabi-laxmikanta-mohapatra/ | access-date=29 June 2020 | archive-date=3 August 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803204832/https://eodisha.org/kanta-kabi-laxmikanta-mohapatra/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1953|02|24|1888|12|09}}<ref name="Orissa Review August 2006"/>
| death_place = Bhadrak
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| education = Bachelor of Arts
| alma_mater = Ripon College, [[Ravenshaw University|University of Ravenshaw]]
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| notable_works = [[Bande Utkala Janani]]
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| spouse = Labangalata Das
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| children = Nityananda Mohapatra , Goura Chandra Mohapatra (Son)<ref name="Home 2020">{{cite web | title=fullstory | website=Home | date=29 June 2020 | url=http://www.ptinews.com/news/10032768_Freedom-fighter-Goura-Chandra-Mohapatra-passes-away.html | access-date=29 June 2020 | archive-date=26 February 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226004133/http://www.ptinews.com/news/10032768_Freedom-fighter-Goura-Chandra-Mohapatra-passes-away.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Kantakabi : A Nationalist Poet of Rare Caliber">{{cite web |last1=Mohapatra |first1=Prabhu Kalyan |title=Kantakabi : A Nationalist Poet of Rare Caliber |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=31084 |website=PIB |publisher=Ministry of Information & Broadcasting |accessdate=29 June 2020 |ref=Kantakabi : A Nationalist Poet of Rare Caliber |archive-date=6 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006204819/https://pib.gov.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=31084 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| parents = Choudhury Bhagabat Prasad Samantaray Mohapatra and Radhamani Devi
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}}

'''Laxmikanta Mohapatra''' (9 December 1888 – 24 February 1953) was an Indian [[Odia literature|Odia]] poet, writer, performance artist, and freedom fighter. He authored more than ten published works. Mohapatra was a prominent campaigner in the Odisha State Unification Movement and an active member of the [[Utkal Sammilani|Utkala Sammilani]].

== Early life and family ==
Laxmikanta was born on 9 December 1888 in a Zamindar [[Karan (caste)|Karan]] family at Talapada, Tihidi block of Bhadrak district. His father, Zamindar Choudhury Bhagabat Prasad Samantaray Mohapatra, and his mother, Radhamani Devi, belonged to Talapada village in Bhadrak district, which at that time formed part of the [[Bengal Presidency]]. His father represented the Bihar and Orissa Legislative Council four times and served twice as its deputy speaker.

Laxmikanta spent much of his childhood at his maternal uncle's house and received his early education in [[Balasore]]. After completing his intermediate studies, he joined ripon College in Kolkata for higher education. In 1913, he returned to [[Ravenshaw University|Ravenshaw College]] and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree.<ref name="Kantakabi : A Nationalist Poet of Rare Caliber"/>

He married Labanga Lata, the daughter of Zamindar Lalmohan Das.

At an early stage of his career, Laxmikanta contracted [[leprosy]], which limited his physical mobility. Nevertheless, he continued to remain active in the literary sphere.

== Literary life ==

Laxmikanta wrote in a wide range of genres, including drama, parody, poetry, short stories, and novels. His literary style reflected nationalistic fervour and sharp satire. He was among the writers who made significant contributions to Odia literature at a time when its survival was considered threatened.<ref name="George Sahitya Akademi 1992 p. 905">{{cite book | last=George | first=K.M. | author2=Sahitya Akademi | title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and Poems | publisher=Sahitya Akademi | year=1992 | isbn=978-81-7201-324-0 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&pg=PA905 | access-date=30 September 2020 | page=905 | archive-date=8 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408062430/https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&pg=PA905 | url-status=live }}</ref>

As a political critic, his sharp commentary on politicians and feudal chiefs earned him an adverse reputation. He was also active as a musician and actor, and contributed to the tradition of performing arts in Odisha. He established a dramatic troupe named Gopinath Natya Samaj in his native village.<ref name="Pani Das Kar 1988 p. ">{{cite book | last1=Pani | first1=S. | last2=Das | first2=H.C. | last3=Kar | first3=I.B. | title=Glimpses of History and Culture of Balasore | publisher=Orissa State Museum | year=1988 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=im1DAAAAYAAJ | access-date=29 June 2020 | page=xxvii}}</ref>

Kantakabi's songs such as {{transliteration|or|Bande Utkala Janani}}, {{transliteration|or|Koti Koti Kanthe Aji}}, and {{transliteration|or|Udaee Nisana Bajai Veri}} became rallying cries for Odia freedom fighters during the independence movement and the campaign for a separate state. His composition ''Bande Utkala Janani'' was adopted as the welcome song for the Balasore session of the Utkal Sammilani, the organisation that spearheaded the movement for the formation of Odisha as a separate province. In 2020, the song was accorded the status of the state anthem of Odisha.

==Published works==
[[File:Laxmikanta Mohapatra Statue.jpg|thumb|Mohapatra Statue in [[Bhubaneswar]]]]

===Novel===
* ''Kana Mamu''

===Short stories===
* ''Budha Sankhari''

===Mythological works===
* ''Basanta Bilasa''
* ''Baruna Bijaya''
* ''Kaliyadalana''
* ''Brajabarjana''
* ''Besabadala''

===Plays===
* ''Karna''
* ''Kalapahada''
* ''Chandraahasa''

===Children's literature===
* ''Chidiakhana''
* ''Dharma Sangeeta''
* ''Balachara''
* ''Sunapua''
* ''Mo Desa''

===Essays===
* ''Keisora Swapna''
* ''Joubana Pathe''
* ''Nibhruta Nisithe''
* ''Jibanta Maran''

Mohapatra also edited a journal titled ''Dagara'', which featured articles across diverse genres, including satire, children's stories, and political and social criticism.

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Odia literature}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mohapatra, Laxmikanta}}
[[Category:1888 births]]
[[Category:1953 deaths]]
[[Category:Novelists from Odisha]]
[[Category:People from Bhadrak district]]
[[Category:Odia-language writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian short story writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Odisha]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Indian male novelists]]
[[Category:Indian male short story writers]]

Laxmikanta Mohapatra - Revision history

Optimalvapors at 17:47, 27 March 2026