Odisha Review
Jayamangal Rath : A Reformer
Humanism is an attitude of the
mind, attaching prime importance
to man. Human values are often
regarded as the central theme of
Renaissance of Civilization. In
recent years the term
“Humanism” has often been used
to refer to a value system that
emphasizes the personal worth of
each individual.
Jayamangal Rath a
freedom fighter, Social Reformer
and significant Odia Nationalist
and a great humanist was born on 27.01.1893 in
Manjusha (presently Mandasa in Andhra
Pradesh). His father, Narayan Rath became the
Dewan of Dharakote estate. Jayamangal Rath's
initial education was in Manjusha as well as in
Dharakote.
Young Jayamangal Rath showed his
desire for social service by writing a news item
from Manjusha which was published on
17.01.1914 in “Sambalpur Hiteisini”, a well known
periodical of that time. That article was related to
a “Blind Care Society” established in Manjusha
estate. His another article published in the
“Sambalpur Hiteisini” on 09.01.1915 spoke a lot
about his keenness in social reforms particularly
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Kanhu Balakrishna Bihary
against child marriage and in
favour of widow re-marriage.
It is too noteworthy, that
the major effect of national
awakening in the 19th century
was seen in the field of social
reforms. Nearly all the religious
reformers contributed to the
social reform movement. The
movement penetrated from
Urban India to the Rural India
and down to the lower strata of
society and began to revolutionize and reconstruct
the social sphere.
The social reform movements tried in the
main to achieve two objectives i.e.
(1) Emancipation of women and extension of
equal rights to them and (2) Removal of caste
rigidities and in particular the abolition of
untouchability.
The spirit of reforms pioneered
particularly in the context of Ganjam district were
Sribatcha Panda and Jayamangal Rath. Both were
staunch reformists, embraced Arya Samaj by
Sribatcha Panda and Brahmo Samaj by
Jayamangal Rath. Both the Samaj, despite being
regional in scope and content and confined to
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Hindu religion, their general perspectives were
remarkably similar.
The year 1917 saw Jayamangal Rath, as
an Asst. Editor of “Samaj Mitra” a monthly
published from Dharakote and became its editor
in 1918.
For a short period, he worked as a
teacher in Aska arid Buguda under District Board,
Ganjam. As an independent personality, his
thinking and actions, could not cope with the
Authorities, so he resigned from service.
Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership and
thoughts had an enormous influence which
Jayamangal cultivated in himself systematically.
Gopabandhu Das indentified the broad qualities
of Jayamangal Rath and in the year 1920
appointed him as the Secretary of Ganjam district
Congress Committee. Gopabandhu Das was also
impressed by Jayamangal Rath’s organizational
skills, hence entrusted him the arrangement
responsibilities on the occasion of Mahatma
Gandhi’s visit to Berhampur on 29.03.1921.
Sribatcha Panda a staunch, foremost and
fiercest reformer of Odisha, the first B.A graduate
of Ghumsar, nominated Jayamangal Rath as
Secretary of “Go Raksha Ashram” in the year
1923 situated at Rosul Konda under the auspices
of “Utkal Arya Samaj”. Jayamangal Rath was
much concerned for the development and
upliftment of Harijans. He opened one night school
in August 1923 at Gate Bazar Hadi Sahi.
Patitapaban Sevak Samaj or Patitapaban mission
for the development of Harijans were established
in various parts of Odia speaking tracts Viz.,
Kharagpur, Kolkata in West Bengal, Ichapuram,
lndupur (Edupuram), Koitha (Kaviti), Balada
(Near Kasinagar) and Tekkali in Andhra Pradesh,
Arjipalli (Near Chatrapur), Surolo, Pathara,
Langaleswar. Rambha and Haripur (Near
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Odisha Review
Gopalpur) all in the coastal belt. The Berhampur
branch of Patitapaban Mission opened in 1927.
During Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to Berhampur
hundreds of Harijans entered Raghunath Temple.
Jayamangal Rath was instrumental in this mission.
“MAHIMA” a spiritual periodical started
publishing from Berhampur since June 1940.
Jayamangal Rath was regularly writing in
the leading periodical of that time Viz, Samaja,
Sampalpur Hiteisini. Utkal Deepika, Asha,
Prajatantra, Sanskar, Nabeen etc. All his writings
were highlighting social evils and its eradications.
He vehemently fought for an appointment
of Odia teacher in Indupur (Edupuram) village,
as a result of which Govt. of Andhra Pradesh
appointed one Odia teacher for the benefit of Odia
students.
In 1939 he conducted a meeting
comprising of all the Odia speaking fishermen of
Andhra Pradesh and impressed upon them for
formation of fisherman cooperative societies in
their respective villages. He acted as the Secretary
for Ganjam district fisherman cooperative society,
for several years.
For his remarkable contributions in the
field of social services particularly in upliftment of
Harijans, invoking Odia nationalism and
propounding Gandhian values and messages,
Jayamangal Rath has received enormous honour
in the hearts of downtrodden. He breathed his
last on 20.06.1952.
Thus Jayamangal Rath has become a
source of inspiration for the generations to come,
as an embodiment of steadfastness, principles,
simplicity and missionary commitment.
Kanhu Balakrishna Bihary, 2nd Lane, Alakapuri,
Berhampur-760010, E-mail : kbkbihary@gmail.com
AUGUST - 2019