Gokulanada Gitiswami

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Gokulananda Gitiswami is the most remembered idols among the Bishnupriya Manipuri poets. Gokulananda’s poems and songs immortalizing Mother Bishnupriya played a pivotal part in defining Bishnupriya Manipuri culture, both in Bangladesh and India.

Gokulananda was born on 26th November, 1886, at the Village of Madhabpur of Moulvibazar district of Bangladesh. Gokuladanda could not prosecute his studies much, he could study only up to 8th standard because of some adverse circumstances, but his burning desire of acquiring knowledge remained with him which later on encouraged him to set up a school. He came over India later on and settled at Tripura.

Unfortunately for us not much of his works are available. His compositions which survive today are remembered by the people from his popular refrains. Only a few years back a few specimen of his writings were recovered. But the few lines which still survive, speak volumes about this great man who composed them

Gokulananda was also a social reformer. His impact on the Bisnupriya Manipuries has been manifold. He traversed the whole of Bishnupriya-speaking region - singing with a missionary fervour of the ills of our society and their remedies He devoted his entire life to the serve the community, to improve the condition of people and to keep pace with the progress of other communities. He dramatized the plight of manipuri women against the comparative indolence of men. He came under lot of turbulence of the times and he appeared to have wider sympathies.

He exhorted the Bishnupriya Manipuri people to shake of their deep slumber and awake. He said —

Ojnan adhararma ghumatai koti, Utha aji habihan jwaleya chei jnanor bati (How long, will you sleep in the darkness of ignorance. All of you must awake to-day. Look ahead after lighting the lamp of knowledge)

Gokulananda was awarded with the title 'Gitiswami' along with a silver medallion, in a special session of Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha, in 1935.