Laxminarayan Sahu

Laxminarayan Sahu was an eminent and noted writer, poet, journalist, social worker, reformer, historian, politician from Orissa, India.

Early Life of Laxminarayan Sahu
Born in a village named Manikhamb near Balasore; and the only heir to Khetramohan Sahu received degrees of M.A and L.L.B after graduation from school. Reputation as a teacher touched his feet until zenith. He was noted early for his writings and books recording the tribal myths of Orissa. His stories were connected with creation, heaven, and hell, life and death which the tribal of Orissa have been taken down from the lips to lips from generations. He was also deeply involved in promotion and preservation of folk dance and music of Orissa and Oriya Culture, language and literature.

Career of Laxminarayan Sahu
Apart from Oriya he was also for his writings in Hindi language, Bengali language, English language and Sanskrit language. His other famous stories are "Veena", "Sulata", "Control Room", poems " Pashara " and social story of "Springs of the Soul " etc. He was also Oriya newspaper Sahakar and English dailies - Vatarini and Star of Utkal. As a reformer, he fought again untouchability and social evils against women.

Laxminarayan Sahu was elected to Orissa Assembly in 1947 and was a member of Constituent Assembly of India. Laxminarayan Sahu was noted for his fiery and to the fact debates while drafting of constitution of India and even Dr. B. R. Ambedkar had to admit in context of arguments put forth by Laxminaryan Sahu that the Constitution was carrying contradictions, harmful enough to shatter India, unless removed by the people`s representatives in the earliest opportunity. At the debate in Constituent Assembly of India, he is said to have thundered:- Mr. Kamath has quietly introduced in it the God too. Some people hold that there is no God. The people of India do not want God.

Laxminarayan Sahu was awarded with Padma Shri in year 1955 for his contributions in field of Literature and Education. He was also given title of Ithihasratna for his works and writings on history of Orissa. He was a member of Asiatic Society, President of Orissa Sahitya Academy and also a member of Servants of India Society.