Chakradhar Behera was a prominent peasant leader and poet from the Bhadrak district of Odisha. He wrote the famous poem Bandira Bilapa while he was imprisoned during the Kanika Peasants Agitation.
The peasantry of Kanika was suffering under the burden of high revenues and illegal taxes and cesses collected by the British backed Raja of Kanika. Inspired by the non-cooperation movement led by Gandhiji, which was sweeping the country, they decided to rebel against the brutal colonial-feudal regime. Chakradhar Behera, who worked as an accountant for the Kanika Raj resigned from his post due to the Raja’s unjust policies, and assumed leadership of the peasant movement. The Raja and the British together tried to suppress this insurgence by force. Chakradhar Behera was arrested under the Chowkidari Ordinance and confined in the Balasore Jail. While in captivity, he wrote Bandira Bilapa, which tells the story of the long struggle in Kanika as well as his experiences as a prisoner. It is a fitting portrayal of all the hardships suffered by the peasants, and their resolve to fight against injustice. His words stirred the people and encouraged them to resist the oppressive acts of the British and the Raja.
Because of his revolutionary work against imperial and feudal and colonial forces, Chakradhar Behera got the title Biplabi which means rebel.
Source: Indian Culture Portal