Baladeba Ratha

Kabisurjya Baladeba Ratha
Kabisurjya Baladeba Ratha depicted in a palm leaf manuscript by 19th-century chitrakāra master Raghunath Prusti
Native name	କବିସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ବଳଦେବ ରଥ
Born	Bada Khemundi,Ganjam,Odisha,India
Died	Athagada,Odisha,India
Language	Odia
Genre	Odissi music
Notable works	Kishorachandrananda Champu, Ratnakara Champu, Chandrakala, Sarpa Janana

KabisurjyaBaladeba Ratha(alternatively spelledKabisurya, Kavisurya Baladev Rath,Odia:କବିସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ବଳଦେବ ରଥ,romanized:Kabisūrjya Baḷadeba Ratha,Odia:[kɔbisurd͡ʒjɔbɔl̪ɔd̪ebɔɾɔt̪ʰɔ];c. 1789 – 1845) was an Indian poet who wrote in theOdia language,and a composer and musician ofOdissi music,most known as poet-composer of theChampu.Kabisurjya has composed hundreds of songs in the tradition ofOdissi music,employing unique traditional ragas & talas. His magnum opusKisorachandrananda Champuis a cornerstone of the Odissi music repertoire & Kabisurjya is widely renowned for his masterful compositions. He wrote in bothSanskritandOdia.His works are known for their devotional quotient and he is the credited founder of theDhumpa Sangitatradition.

Early life

He was born in Bada Khemundi(presentlyDigapahandi),Ganjam,Odisha. Baladeva Ratha's mother died when he was ten years old. He was brought up by his maternal grand father, Tripurari Hota in Athagada (who also taught him Sanskrit and Odia literature). He married at the age of 15. After his father's death, he moved to the nearby Jalantara state. The prince of Jalantara, Rama Chandra Chhotaraya encouraged his literary creations and gave him the title 'Kabisurjya', meaning 'The Sun among Poets.'

Literary works

A person singing the "kehi sariki, prabhu pane nilādrī keśarīki" poem of Baladeba Ratha

Ratha was anOdissi musicianand scholar. He composed poems as aVaishnava,in devotion to Lord Vishnu. He was associated with a group of poets, which included Dinakrushna Dasa and Abhimanyu Samantasinghara.His best-known works includeKabisurjya Granthavali,Kabisurjya GeetabaliandKisora Chandrananda Chaupadi-Chautisa,which combines the two literary forms ofchaupadi(a poem having four stanzas (though the term came to refer to any short song in latter times), andchautisa(a 34-stanza poem where every stanza begins with a new letter of theOdia alphabet).Kisora Chandrananda Champuis noted for its emotional quotient and the role it played in enforcing theritischool of Sanskrit literature. He was also the author of severalchampusincludingRatnakara Champu,Premodaya ChampuandKisora Chandrananda Champu.Kisora Chandrananda Champuhas both Odia and Sanskrit compositions and it was the Odia part of the work that has been credited with cementing his literary reputation in the language.

Dhumpa sangita

Ratha is thought to have invented thedhumpa,abamboopercussion instrument,that accompanies theOdia folk artform of dhumpa sangita. The dhumpa accompanies recitations of his songs calleddhumpa sangeeta.Many of his poetic pieces, especially thechampuare set to dance inOdissi.

Death and Commemoration

Ratha died in Athagada (Athgarh,Odisha) in the year 1845.Dasarathi Das'Kabisurjya Baladeba Rathais a biography that examines his life and contributions toIndian literature.Kabisuryanagar,formerly Boirani, a town in the Ganjam district ofOdishahas been named in his honour.