Mukundadas (1878-1934)

Bard, born at Vikrampur in Dhaka. He was named Yajneswar, but later became known as Mukundadas after being initiated by Ramananda.

Mukundadas's grandfather was a boatman and his father, Gurudayal, worked as an orderly at the Deputy Court in barisal where they finally settled. Mukundadas studied at Barisal Zila School and Brajamohan School. When he was 19, he heard a kirtan sung by Bireswar Gupta and joined his troupe. Subsequently, he formed his own troupe and devoted himself to music.

This was the time when the country was involved in the anti-British swadeshi movement. After being initiated into this movement by aswini kumar datta of Barisal, Mukunda started writing nationalist songs and folk plays. His songs were published in a magazine called Barishal Hitaisi (Friend of Barisal). A collection of his songs was published as Matrpuja (Worship of Mother, 1908). In his songs Mukunadas called for the boycott of foreign goods and described the oppression by the British in simple, vivid language. Enraged by his songs like Chhila dhan gola bhara / shveta indure karla sara (Granaries filled with rice/were destroyed by white mice), the British government arrested him. He was imprisoned for three years and was fined heavily.

Though financially ruined by the fine, Mukunda was not daunted. During the non-cooperation movement in 1922 and the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930, he continued to inspire people with his songs and plays. He was referred to as a charan kavi, or bard, by rabindranath tagore and kazi nazrul islam. His collections of writings include Sadhansangit (Songs of devotion), Palliseba (Village welfare), Brahmacharini (Follower of brahmacharya), Path (Roads), Sathi (Companion), Samaj (Society), Karmaksetra (The world), etc. Some of these are posthumous publications. Mukundadas was awarded various medals as well as other prizes. He is remembered chiefly as a 'bard'.

:: Added 12082005 @ 1525 GMT