SONGS OF SOIL

Padma Shri Haladhar Nag is a Poet-Singer-Kavi-Bard-Balladeer-Troubadour- Minstrel: all rolled into one. A living icon of the rich folk literary traditions of Sambalpuri-Koshali language and region, he has written more than a thousand poems including epic poems.

This book introduces the readers to the amazing poetry of the unschooled Bard by presenting a translation of ten of his signature poems: Ancient Banyan Tree (Dhado Bargach), Our Village Graveyard (Amar Gaanr Masan Pada), Kamdhenu (Kamdhenu), A Spring Morning (Chaitar Sakal), A Letter to Kavi Haladhar (Kabi Haladhar ke chithi), Feast (Bhuji), Remember (Bhabinia), A Squirrel (Guncha), Magshir (Magshiren), and Dasra Arrives (Aela Dasra).

Sambalpuri-Koshali region of Odisha has a population of more than 15 million and has a robust and dynamic folk culture.