Nanda was educated in the village of Kantapada, and at the Revenshwa collegiate school, Cuttack. He wrote for a school magazine, Chandrika. At the time of Independence of India, Nanda was inspired by a local leader, Gopobandhu and became a Swecha Sebaka, a volunteer.
He stayed in Alkasrama,until continuing his studies at Satybadi Jatiya Bidyalaya, where he learnt Devnagiri, a type of Indian alphabet.
Nanda also matriculated from the English medium school and later received a bachelor of education.
He composed the song Ahe Dayamaya Biswa Bihari, a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati Ashram. This song was included in his Odia language text book Sahitya Sopana. Family Nanda"s father was Madhusudan Nanda (d 1892).
In 1925, Nanda married Soudamini Devi (d 13 August 1988).
Nanda"s younger brother was Dinakrushna Nanda. Education Nanda began his career as a teacher at Banki school.
He was then, for six years, an assistant teacher at Baripada high school. In 1933, Nanda became a social worker
He began a local welfare organization called Narayan Samiti.
He was also a head master at Bhingarpur high school. Nanda"s lyrics for Aahe Dayamaya Bishwa Bihari and Holi Holi Re Holi Ranga Rangeli Nali. were used in the 1978 film, Balidaan.