Mukura was a 20th century Odia magazine. It was founded by Braja Sundar Das in 1906 in Cuttack, Odisha and was published for about 25 years, with its last issue in 1930. Braja Sundar Das was the editor of this magazine. It cost Rs. 2 at the time.[1]
Mukura was a literary magazine having articles, stories, and poems on nationalism, philosophy, history, religion, culture, science, social reform, and linguistics, among other subjects. The works published in Mukura carried a patriotic undertone, emphasising the need to rescue the Odia language and identity from its dire status.[2][3][1]
It played a central role in lobbying for the amalgamation of Odia-speaking areas; a long struggle that culminated in the creation of Odisha as a separate state on April 1, 1936 (Utkal Divas). It functioned at par with Utkal Sahitya and held the distinction of an important instrument for the dispersion of new ideas and literature. In fact, Mukura was the first literary magazine focussing on nationalistic literature, setting the stage for the establishment of many newspapers. Many young intellectuals started their literary career through Mukura. This phase is referred to as “Satyabadi Era” [4]
Mukura was initially printed in Cuttack Mission Press. In 1910, Braja Sundar Das purchased a press from Puri and began a type of foundry using a more attractive lead type that was considered the best in Odisha. Thus, the later editions of Mukura were printed in Mukura Press Premises, established by Das, in Bhashakosh Lane, Cuttack.[5]
Literary luminaries who contributed extensively to the magazine were Gopabandhu Das, Fakir Mohan Senapati, Mrutyunjaya Rath, Madhusudan Das, Sribatsa Panda, Nilakantha Das, Kuntala Kumari Sabat, Dayanidhi Mishra, Jagabandhu Singh, Krupasindhu Mishra, among others.
There was an upsurge in the demand for novels at the turn of the 20th century, with more than about 250 novels being published between 1920 and 1947. In 1923, Braja Sundar Das launched a series of publications under Mukura, called “Mukura Upanyasmala” (Mukura Novel Series).[1]
Through Mukura and Mukura Press, Braja Sundar Das, not only published distinguished literary pieces but also offered a platform to young talent who would later be helmed as literary giants in the Odia language. One such example is Godabarish Mahapatra. “Banapur”, the poem written by Mahapatra in 1915, got the attention of Braja Sundar Das who helped publish this piece and launched a young Godabarish Mahapatra into Odia literature. This established a rooted relationship where Mukura Press published “Pravat Kusum” (Morning Flowers), an anthology comprising Mahapatra’s poems.[1] Similarly, “The Prajatantra”, started by Harekrushna Mahatab, was first launched and published in Mukura Press.
Mukura promoted tourism and regional awareness by publishing a series of works by Mrutyunjaya Rath under the heading “Tippani” (Notes). Rath combined a tourist’s curiosity with poetic sensitivity while writing about the various places in Odisha that he visited. These places included Mahavinayak, Lalitgiri, Udaygiri, Dhauli, etc.
An excerpt from his commentary on Nilamadhab at Kantilo:[1]
“Looking at it from the village, the cloud-kissing compound walls of the temple give the illusion of a five-storied palace. The picturesque situation of Nilamadhab pleases the mind and the eyes exceedingly. On one side the blue flow of the Mahanadi and its vast sand beds, and on the other, the blue-wooded hills. As the temple appears wonderfully beautiful from a distance, so also the vast carpeted surrounding below appears equally pleasing.”