Radhanath Rath
{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Radhanath Rath
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1896|12|06}}
| birth_place = Radhanathpur Shashan, Athagarh
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1998|02|11|1896|12|06|df=yes}}
| death_place = Cuttack, Odisha
| image = Dr Radhanath Rath.png
| restingplace = Satyabadi, Puri
| office = Minister of Development
| term_start = 6 Apr 1957
| term_end = 25 Feb 1961
| office1 = Minister of Finance and Education
| term_start1 = 7 Apr 1952
| term_end1 =19 Oct 1956
| office2 = Member: 5th and 6th Odisha Legislative Assembly
| constituency2 = Athagarh
| term_start2 = 1971
| term_end2 = 1977
| office3 = Member: PI2, 1st and 2nd Odisha Legislative Assembly
| constituency3 = Athagarh
| term_start3 = 1946
| term_end3 = 1961
| predecessor3 =
| successor3 =
| party = Indian National Congress
| otherparty =
| spouse = Savitri Rath
| children = Dr.Neelakantha Rath,Shanti lata,Manorama,Ramesh Ch Rath
| alma_mater = Ravenshaw Collegiate School
| profession = Writer, politician
| education = Matriculation
}}
Dr. Radhanath Rath (6 December 1896 – 11 February 1998) was a newspaper editor, freedom fighter, social worker and politician from Odisha. He was the editor of The Samaja, one of the leading newspapers of Odisha.
Early life
He was born on 6 December 1896,{{cite web |url= http://odishatoday.com/viewnews.php?news_id=2155 |title=Dr. Radhanath Rath: Doyen of Odisha journalism |work=odishatoday.com |year=2011|quote=Dr Rath was born on December 6, 1896 in a poor brahmin family in the then princely state of Athgarh |access-date=4 March 2013}} in a village named "Radhanathpur Shashan" of Aathgarh.{{cite web |url= http://www.123orissa.com/person/person.asp?sno=27&cat=p |title=Eminent Persons -123orissa.com |work=123orissa.com |quote=.Dr. Radhanath Rath was born in a village named "Radhanathpur Shashan" of Aathgarh. |access-date=5 March 2013}} He started his education in the Jubilee School of Balasore where his uncle Lokanath Mohapatra was the Sanskrit teacher. He was matriculated in 1916 from Ravenshaw Collegiate School of Cuttack.
He joined the forest department of Singhbhum district as a Clerk. He left the job in 1919 and joined the 'Satyabadi press' of Gopabandhu Das. He started his career in Journalism as Manager and Assistant Editor{{cite web |url= http://www.orissaboutique.com/radhanathrath.html |title= Dr. Radhanath Rath (1896–1998) |work=orissaboutique.com |year=2009 |quote=Dr. Radhanath Rath started his distinguished career in Journalism as Manager and Assistant Editor |access-date=5 March 2013}} of the Oriya weekly "The Samaja" which was started under the editorial of Gopabandhu Das. After the death of Gopabandhu Das in the year 1928, Pandit Lingaraj Mishra worked as the editor of the "Samaj". In the year 1930, the daily publication of Samaj was initiated. During 1946–1952 Lingaraj Mishra worked as the education minister of Odisha. So Radhanath Rath became the Editor of the "Samaj".
He joined the Quit India Movement in 1942 and was imprisoned for two years.
Political activities
He was elected 5 times to the Odisha Legislative Assembly. In 1946, he was first elected to the state assembly from Athagarh. He appointed cabinet Minister in charge of Finance, Education, Forestry and Agriculture from 1952 to 1961. Radhanath Rath became the Finance and Education Minister in the Nabakrushna Choudhury Cabinet for the period 1952 to 1959. In the year 1959 he held the post of minister of development & forest department under the Harekrushna Mahatab's Cabinet.[http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/orissaannualreference/ORA-2011/pdf/357-397.pdf COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF ODISHA (1937–2009)] Except for between 1961 and 1967, he remained a member of the house from 1946 to 1977.
Social work
He was a lifetime member and President of the Odisha branch of the 'Servants of the People Society' set up by Lala Lajpat Rai of Punjab. He was president of the Society for over a decade from May 1981.{{cite web |url= http://odishatoday.com/viewnews.php?news_id=2155 |title=Dr. Radhanath Rath: Doyen of Odisha journalism|work=odishatoday.com |quote=Dr Rath was president of the Servants of the People Society of India for over a decade from May 1981. |access-date=5 March 2013}} He was the head of the All Indian Scout and Guides Association, Odisha. He was also related to many other organisations like the Hind leprosy eradication group, the Gopabandhu Daridra Narayan Seva Sangha. He was also the Deputy Din of the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology. He has written many poems, stories and biographies. "Mo Jel Smruti Lipi" is one of his famous works. He died on 11 February 1998 at Cuttack,{{cite news|title=Doyen of Orissa journalism passes away|url=http://m.rediff.com/news/1998/feb/12rath.htm|access-date=28 November 2015|newspaper=Rediff News|date=12 February 1998}} and was buried with full state honours at Satyabadi near Puri.{{cite web |url= http://www.rediff.co.in/news/1998/feb/12rath.htm |title=Rediff on the NeT: Doyen of Orissa journalism passes away |work=rediff.co.in |year=1998 |quote=His body was laid to rest with full state honours at Satyabadi near Puri |access-date=5 March 2013}}
Awards
- Orissa Sahitya Academy Award, 1991{{cite web |url=http://www.orissasahityaakademi.org/english/common/sahitya-awards/award3.htm |title=Orissa Sahitya Akademi |work=orissasahityaakademi.org |quote=Year-1967 26. Padmabhusan Radhanath Rath |access-date=5 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218201619/http://www.orissasahityaakademi.org/english/common/sahitya-awards/award3.htm |archive-date=18 December 2010 |df=dmy-all }}
- Padma Bhusan, 1968{{cite web|title=Padma Awards Directory (1954–2009)|publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs|url=http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/LST-PDAWD.pdf|quote=19 Shri Radhanath Rath PB OR Litt. & Edu.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510095705/http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/LST-PDAWD.pdf|archive-date=10 May 2013|df=dmy-all}}
- Critic Circle of India award, 1987
- All India Anubrata award in 1988
- Utkal Ratna Samman (1993, Utkal Sahitya Samaj)
- Degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D) (by the Berhampur University), 1976.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1960–69}}
{{Padma Award winners of Odisha}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rath, Radhanath}}
Category:Indian men centenarians
Category:People from Cuttack district
Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in literature & education
Category:Recipients of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award
Category:Prisoners and detainees of British India
Category:State cabinet ministers of Odisha
Category:Odisha MLAs 1946–1952
Category:Odisha MLAs 1952–1957
Category:Odisha MLAs 1957–1961
Category:Odisha MLAs 1971–1973
Category:Odisha MLAs 1974–1977
Category:Odia-language writers