Gangadhar Meher (August 9, 1862 - April 4, 1924) was born on the day of Sravana Purnima at Barpali, Bargarh District (undivided Sambalpur District) in a Bhulia weaver family. Though he was educated up to 5th Class, he has given a new meaning and glory to Oriya Language and Literature.
He has written his poetry in such a manner that it attracts and gladdens the hearts of all literature-loving people. His poetic creations include 'Tapasvini' , ‘Pranaya Ballari’, ‘Kichaka Badha’, ‘Indumati’ , ‘Utkala Lakshmi’, ‘Ayodhya Drushya’, ‘Bharati Bhabana’, 'Arghya Thali', ‘Kabita Mala’ &
‘Krushaka Sangita’. "Tapasvini Kavya" is his masterpiece and it has been translated into English, Hindi and Sanskrit.

Gangadhar is widely known as a Poet of nature (Prakruti Kabi). He is regarded as a great illustrious poet and maker of Indian Literature for his value-based writings on Indian culture.
His poetry can be classified into lyrics, devotional, patriotic, reformative, ethical, agricultural, elegy and narration of nature. His prose works include ‘Atma Jeevani’, 'Shri Nruparaj Singh’, ‘Purana Kabi Fakir Mohan’, Swargiya Kasinath Panda, Eha ki Pruthibira Sabda etc.[1]

In 1949, Sambalpur College in Sambalpur, which had opened in 1944, was renamed Gangadhar Meher College in his honour. Since 1999, the college has been called Gangadhar Meher College (Autonomous).[2]
In 1992, Sambalpur University instituted the Gangadhar Meher National Award for Poetry which is conferred annually .