Literature always exercised tremendous impact on popular consciousness and inspired people at large to participate in socio-economic, political and cultural spheres of life. In this work for the first time an attempt has been made to present a balanced and complete account of the impact of Oriya literature on the growth of nationalism and national movement of India. During the freedom movement nationalistic literature was prepared in abundance by Oriya poets, novelists & dramatists due to the advent of Gandhiji from within and also due to the impact of some contemporary forces from outside. Apart from political freedom, the concern of the writers was also for the contemporary socio, economic and linguistic issues. Moreover the work highlights the impact of literature in general on Orissan life and culture.

This is a pioneering interdisciplinary study which will cater to the need of variety of readers. Mainly based on contemporary literary and historical sources the work will certainly prove to be a great source of information to students, teachers and researchers.

Narmada Rath, born in 1984, completed her M.A,M.Phil, Ph.D. in History from Berhampur University in 2006, 2008 and 2015 respectively. She also completed Diploma in Tourism & Indian Monuments (D.T.I.M), LL.B from Berhampur University in the year 2007 & 2012 respectively. She has published a number of articles in different research journals at National and International level. She has participated and presented papers in a number of National and International Seminars, Conferences and Workshops organized by different Cultural and Educational Institutions. She is a member of various professional and Executive Bodies. Presently, she is working as a Lecturer in History in University Higher Secondary School, Bhanja Bihar, Berhampur University.

Indian independence movement, a historic event of great socio-political significance also had outstanding impact on creative writing of the contemporary period in different regional languages and Orissa was no exception to that. Undoubtedly literature exercised tremendous impact on the popular consciousness and inspired the people at large to participate in the national movement.

The introduction of British rule in Orissa in the year 1803 and the colonization of economy and the society led to political unrest and popular resistance movements during the first half of the 19th century. Though such uprisings more particularly led by the tribal's and peasants and local Zamindars failed initially, but went a long way in inspiring the popular struggle and national movement of 20th Century. During the 2nd half of the 19th Century among the circumstances that led to the growth of nationalism in Orissa, the language controversy or the language movement of 1860's, a result of the great Orissa Famine of 1866 was most significant. It demonstrated the native impact of colonialism on their culture. The language movement primarily though was concerned with the independence of Orissa from the domination of the non Oriyas, but subsequently led to an awakening of the importance of the liberation of the country from foreign yoke.

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