Meet Padma Shri Haldhar Nag
A Class 3 Dropout and Dishwasher whose Poetry Is Now Taught At Universities.
He was born in a poor family in Odisha. He was forced to drop-out from school to support his family after the death of his father.
Haldhar did odd jobs like washing dishes, and cooking at a school for years.
It was during this period that he started writing. His first poem, 'Dhodo Bargachh' (The Old Banyan Tree) was published in a local magazine in 1990.
He is called 'Lok Kabi Ratna' in Odisha and has written on nature, society, mythology and religion other than taking up the cause of the oppressed. A collection of his works titled Haldhar Granthabali-2 will be soon published by Sambalpur University and it will be a part of their syllabus.
His contribution in the academic sector doesn't end there. Five scholars have done their PhD research based on the works of Nag.
He was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India by Government of India in 2016
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