Acharya Harihar

Acharya Harihar (8 March 1879 – 21 February 1971) was a freedom fighter, teacher and social worker born to a Brahmin family in Sakhigopal in Puri District of Odisha. As a teacher of Satyabadi Bana Bidyalaya, he actively and successfully participated in the literary work of Satyabadi. He composed a translation of the Bhagavad Gita in Odia and children's grammar book in Odia language.

Acharya Harihar was born in AD 1879 at Sriramchandrapur village near Sakhigopal. His mother's name was Shraddha Devi and his father's name was Mahadev Brahma. He completed his primary education in the village, then moved to Puri District School to pursue high school studies. While studying at Puri, he started showing an interest in social service. After he graduated from Puri District School in 1901, he did the F.A. in Ravenshaw College and moved to Calcutta to pursue a degree in law which he was unable to complete.

He participated in the Salt Satyagraha along with Gopabandhu Choudhury in 1930 and was arrested and sent to Hazaribag Jail for six months.

He joined Bhoodan Movement led by Vinoba Bhave and accelerated the movement. Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer was named after Acharya Harihara Das for his significant contributions to social work.