Haldhar Nag was born in a poor family of Ghens in Bargarh district of Odisha on March 31, 1950. He lost his father at the tender age of ten.He was certainly not a man of means but his poetic fragrance lured many.Nag has been compared to Gangadhar Meher.
The British Broadcasting Corporation made a documentary film about his life and works. In the entire length and breadth of Western Odisha Koshali poet Haldhar Nag is someone who is revered to as a messiah. Needless to say he got lakhs of followers in Odisha and Chatishgarh, who congregate in large number to listen to his Koshali poetry when so ever he orates on the podium.
Initially writing Kosli folk stories, in the 1990s he started writing poems in the Kosali language.
Hundreds of budding poets imitate his style and technique boosting a robust “HaldharDhara” in Western Odisha. He fights for the oppressed through his writing and social reformation on the basis of human dignity is high on this Poet-Crusader’s list.
He has been at the forefront of the Sambalpuri-koshli language movement for inclusion in 8th schedule of Constitution. He was awarded with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India by Government of India in 2016.
