Kapil Charan Das was born on 11 November 1920 in Fakirpur village of Basudevpur block of Bhadrak district to Michhupan Das and Panchu Devi. He completed his Middle English schooling in 1935 and completed matriculation in Salyanand High school. His interest in the freedom struggle arose from his childhood when he was inspired by his father who used to organize many secret meetings of the freedom fighters in his village residence and provided hospitality to them in many ways. Being acquainted with them he took a vow to fight against the British till his last breath.
His journey to the movement started in 1936 when he was arrested for picketing and was lodged in Balasore jail for a few days. After his release, he became a committed worker of the freedom movement to propagate the message of Satyagraha, a boycott of foreign clothes, removal of untouchability, giving up intoxication, and maintaining communal harmony by moving from village to village. He could win over people to join his mission. In 1940-1941, he joined the Individual Satyagraha and took training to weave Khadi clothes in a weaving Centre in Balasore. In 1942, under the leadership of Gour Mohan Das, he joined the Quit India Movement by creating secret groups in which he was an undercover agent. He was arrested and released in 1944. Thereafter, he went to Sevagram for training in Khadi work. Thereafter, he joined the Gandhi Balashram in Bhadrak as a Khadi teacher in 1946 and took care of the poor orphans and destitute there. Apart from the Balashram, he also took a leading role in establishing Ishwar Lal Sishu Bhawan in Jaleswar, Bishnupriya Balashram and old age center in Anandpur, Purubai Kanyashram in Soro and Matrusakti temple in Sribatsapur.
After independence, he distasted politics and devoted his entire life to the services of the people. He took part in Vinobha Bhabe’s Bhoodan movement in 1958 and after the death of Iswar Lal Byasa took complete charge of the Gandhi Balashram in Bhadrak and also remained engaged with Purubai Kanyashram in Soro. He was felicitated by the Women and Child Development Department of the Government of India in 1993 for his dedicated services to the cause of orphans and destitute. He died on 22 September 2009.
Source: Odisha State Archives, Bhubaneswar