Haldhar Nag

Haldhar Nag (Odia: ହଳଧର ନାଗ; 31 March 1950 - ) is a Sambalpuri poet and writer from Bargarh, Odisha, India. Popularly known as "Lok Kabi Ratna" (meaning "folk poet gem"). He was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India by Government of India in 2016.

Quotes

• Everyone is a poet, but only a few have the art of giving them shape.
  • quoted at [1]
• Poetry must have real-life connection and a message for the people.
  • quoted at [2]
• I cannot read, write or understand English so cannot compare the original and translated work.
  • quoted at [3]
• The hemant (dewy season) hosts almost all the plants and species on the earth. 560 million species from ant to elephant take shelter during Hemant. The small millets, the Sunflower and what not, all bloom during the hemant. Out of six seasons we now only have three. In Orissa we had Grishma (summer) Barsha (Rainy), Sarata (Autumn), and Basanta (spring). Now we are only left with summer winter and rainy.
  • quoted at [4]

• It sees, it knows, it hears, it finds
  But it speaks not a word
  It stands like a mute witness
  With its strong arms spread outward
  • quoted at Old Banyan Tree (Dhado Bargachh), from Kavyanjali Vol.1
• Let the nectar always flow
  From the seven seas
  From the moon in the skies
  From mother's breast
  From noble principles
  And from the poet's scribbles
  • quoted at Five Nectars of Immortality (Paanch Amrut), from Kavyanjali Vol.1
• Unheralded unsung she is,
  In all seven books of Ramayana
  For the poet in me, Sati she is,
  Even greater than Sita in purity.
  • quoted at The Great Sati Urmila (Mahasati Urmila), from Kavyanjali Vol.1
• For my hunger in my belly I beg,
  But selfish I am not
  Self-centered you are, better start begging,
  Like me from house to hut.
  • quoted at The Minister and Beggar, from Kavyanjali Vol.1
• Like in an heirless clan,
  The lamp is lit by the newborn;
  Let the wick burn and spread,
  The language of Odisha-Western.
  • quoted at Light the Earthen Lamp, from Kavyanjali Vol.1
• On everyone’s lips there was this talk.
  Triumph is never for the poor folk;
  Water always downward flows,
  Fault to the deprived always goes.
  • quoted at Why did he Leave his Home, from Kavyanjali Vol.1
• The money I earn now by selling my body, I shall spend
  To buy heaps of dowry, when I go as a bride newlywed.
  • quoted at The Harlot of Tikarpada, from Kavyanjali Vol.1