Haldhar, The Poet With A Heart For Education

+ve Sambalpur

- Mayank Bhusan Pani

Celebrated for his poetry, Haldhar Nag has also been quietly creating a legacy of education. The 'People's Poet', as he is popularly known in literary circles, Nag has been running a residential school (school with ashram) 'Loka Kabi Haldhar Avasik Banavidyalaya' for children of poor migrant families and those abandoned or orphaned at Kudopali village in Bargarh district, for the last 15 years.

Along with a few people who admired his poetry, Nag started the ashram with a few children in 2009 from a hut. With little means of his own, Nag went door-to-door, imploring villagers nearby to contribute food and essentials for the children. In his spare time, he also taught them. His initiative was initially met with skepticism over funding to run the ashram. But soon, his persistence earned respect and many poor parents began approaching him with requests to take their children under his care while they migrated for work.