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Debadideb Singha Mahapatra was born on 15 August 1920 in Mukundapur village, Bankura district. His parents, Pranakrishna Singha Mahapatra and Bhabini Devi, supported his education at the Khatra M.E. School, followed by attaining education in the Khatra School and Bishnupur Technical School.

In April 1940, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose visited Bankura, including Amarkanan, Bishnupur and Khatra. Debadideb Singha was a volunteer at a political meeting in Khatra, who saw Netaji up close and recited his poetry to him, receiving his blessings. This encounter fuelled his patriotic spirit.

When the Quit India Movement began on 8 August 1942, Debadideb Singha actively participated in it and was subsequently arrested. The British colonial government declared him a criminal. After being imprisoned at the Medinipur Central Jail for some time, he went into hiding.

Following independence, Debadideb Singha dedicated himself to public service, adhering to Gandhian principles. In 1949, he founded Gandhi Ashram, a non-political social welfare institution in Baricha village. His commitment to education led to his election as President of the Bankura District School Board in 1965, where he played a vital role in improving rural education.

Debadideb Singha Mahapatra remained devoted to social work until his passing on 14 October 2012 in his native village, Mukundapur.

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Name mentioned at page number 96 of the book "Swadeshpremer Aalokshika" (Vol. 3), edited by Joydev Barui.

Source: Soumen Pal, Contributor for CCRT.