Biography of Madhusudan Rao

(January 29,183 - 1912)

Madhusudan Rao was born on January 29, 1853, in Orissa. His father was a simple policeman.

Rao was a very talented student in his school. He passed the matriculation examination in 1869 and was awarded a scholarship to complete an F.A. degree. After completing F.A. he wanted to do graduation from Kolkata but his father did not permit him. Then he joined a school as a headmaster.

During his teaching tenure, he comes into contact with the great Oriya literary figures Phakirmohan Senapati and Radhanat Rao. Later on, he was promoted to the post of School Inspector.

He was very orthodox early in his life but became very unorthodox later in his life. He criticised untouchability and other racial discrimination prevalent in contemporary society. He started a journal named 'Dharmabodhim'. His famous works are "Kusumanjali', 'Basant Gatha', and 'Himalaya Udaya'. Madhusudan Rao died in 1912 at the age of 59.