Fakir Mohan Senapati (1843-1918) was a noted literary figure of
Orissa and was born in a small village near
Baleswar. His parents died before he turned three and since then he was brought up by his grandmother. Without any formal education, he emerged as a teacher, painter, editor, writer, and administrator. He was a teacher in the Mission School of Baleswar and later became the Divan of various places in Orissa.
He started the Utkal Press in 1868 and was the publisher of 'Bodhadayini,' 'Nabasambad' and 'Sambad Bahika'. A known poet and writer, he injected a new life into Oriya literature and his sense of humor remains unsurpassed. Discarding romantic themes, his creations were centered on common man and his problems.
His autobiography was marked as the first and foremost admirable self portrayal in Oriya. He opposed the oppression of Oriya literature and raised voice against the cruelty of the British regime. His writings had Oriya nationalism as the dominant content. Fakir Mohan Senapati passed away in 1918.
