Bhima
Bhoi was a great thinker, philosopher and a revolutionary born in the western
part of Odisha in the nineteenth century. Although there is no one opinion on
his time of birth, all agree that this great man took leave of this mortal
world in the year 1895 in the village Khaliapali of present Sonepur district which was then a
princely state under the British
suzerainty.
In
Odia literature Bhima Bhoi is known as a saint poet; it is because he was leading
life of a saint after coming under the influence of Mahima Gosain, a great
saint of that century who as per certain researchers was born in Boudh state
which was another princely state. Mahima Gosain, through high philosophical preaching
had many followers and the religion he founded came to be known as Mahima dharma
or Alekha (“un written”, if translated to English) dharma. Mahima Gosain had not
left behind any book containing his philosophy, religious teachings for his
followers.
During
his childhood days, once Bhima fell into a pit in a jungle while taking care of
the cows of the villagers in Redhakhol and was rescued by this wandering Yogi who
gave his blessing to young Bhima who instantly became his disciple. Bhima Bhoi
had embodied the entire philosophy of Mahima Gosain in a book with rubric “Stuti
Chintamani” in one hundred cantos. This book is a treatise on Mahima order.
Besides this book he has composed many short poems in the form of prayer or
bhajan (Devotional songs) compiled in a book called ‘Bhahana Mala’. These two
immortal books have left land mark in Odia literature.
Bhima
Bhoi has been described as a saint poet because he lived like a saint and like
his Master, wandered different places of Odisha preaching the message of his
Guru. Bhima had his followers too. Even
though he was a tribal born to Kondh tribe, many high caste people, including
Brahmins were his disciples. Bhima was illiterate. It is said that he was also
blind. He could not therefore read and write. All philosophical, devotional and
revolutionary thought, which he dawned in his mind, came out of his mouth in
form of a song. His intuitive thought was instinctive and the song he was
composing was instantaneous. His immortal words “Mo jibana pachhe narke padi
thau, jagata udhhara pau”, which find place in the U.N. Head Quarter office is
a voice of piety of the saint poet for the mankind.
Earlier
Vedic seers in a hymn had invoked ‘Let
all live in happiness, let all be free of ailment; let all look at divinity;
let not sadness come at any moment.” With this invocation the Vedic Rishis
include themselves with the word ‘All’ and for themselves also. Bhima Bhoi on his part volunteered to take all
suffering of the world (both animate and inanimate) upon to himself if in
exchange the whole mankind would get salvation. These words speak of a large
heart with sublime sympathy for the suffering of the world.
The
other aspect of Bhima Bhoi‘s poetry is the voice of revolt he has raised on
behalf of the marginalised people. While observing the injustice in the society
and exploitation of the strong over the weak, of the haves over have nots, of
the upper castes on suppressed castes. In observation of such inequity and
sufferings, he could see in his wisdom and inner look that a dark cloud would engulf
soon this world; he was searching for a light of hope. Bhima says when
exploitation of the strong and the rich would be unbearable and cross the, threshold,
people at the receiving end would rise in revolt against the exploiters; such
revolt of the suppressed class against inequity and injustice would galvanise.
All arrogant rich, so called intellectual, wise and strong will also be
exterminated for their sin and vices. Such a voice of revolt is for the first
time in Odia literature. Bhima Bhoi’s life was approximately from 1850 to 1895.
By - Sanjib Chandra Hota, B.J. 20,
B.J.B. Nagar, Bhubaneswar
.
