Towards a Humane Realization of the ‘Child’: A Study through Bira Kishore Parhi’s Poems in Translation

Abstract

This paper explores the concept of a humane realization of childhood through a critical study of selected Odia poems by Bira Kishore Parhi presented in English translation. Situating the study within broader debates on children’s literature, pedagogy, and cultural transmission, the paper argues that poetry written for children can function as a powerful medium for social, moral, and ecological sensitisation. Challenging adult-centric cultural constructs and pedagogical practices, the study foregrounds children as active agents of ethical and social consciousness rather than passive recipients of instruction.

Through close reading and contextual analysis, the paper examines Parhi’s poems that were originally sung and recited in school assemblies, cultural events, and communal spaces. These poems promote values such as equality, compassion, secularism, communal harmony, and empathy for nature by employing simple diction, lyrical rhythm, and vivid imagery rooted in everyday rural life. The study highlights how Parhi’s poetry resists ideological rigidity and religious dogmatism, instead advancing a humanist and pantheistic worldview aligned with Gandhian ideals of self-reliance, non-violence, and social reform.

The paper also engages with translation as a cultural act, arguing that the translated poems retain the tonal and ethical spirit of the originals while extending their reach beyond regional boundaries. By foregrounding the pedagogical potential of regional children’s poetry, the study advocates for the inclusion of such translated texts in literature curricula to foster holistic development, environmental consciousness, and ethical citizenship. Ultimately, the paper positions Bira Kishore Parhi’s poetry as a vital literary resource for reimagining childhood as the foundation of a humane and inclusive society.