Cuttack: Netaji Was Born Here is a coffee table book with a difference. It's an absorbing narrative that for the first time entirely dwells on the early life of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, bringing to light hitherto unknown facets of his formative years.

Authored by Raja Parija, the 127-page book priced at Rs 899 is set to be formally released on Tuesday on the occasion of 121st birth anniversary at Netaji's alma mater - Ravenshaw Collegiate School - from where he passed his matriculation examination in 1913.

Parija, 55, is an Odisha Administrative Service officer, who holds the post of director of the SC and ST development department.

Netaji had spent the first 16 years of his life in Cuttack. "A large number of monographs have been written on Netaji by eminent writers, historians, biographers and researchers at various point of time, focusing mostly on his political life, Indian National Army (INA) and his mysterious disappearance. But, the history of Bose family and the early life of Netaji in Cuttack have conspicuously been neglected," Parija said on Monday.

"This book hardly makes any claim in favour of a research or reference text. I have attempted to compile some historical information on the Bose family and Netaji in Cuttack and the state," Parija said.

In his preface to the book, Ravenshaw University's history professor Chandi Prasad Nanda observes: "The author, along with expressive visual narratives, brings into focus some of the least known aspects of the early years of one of the top most revolutionary leaders of the world of 20th century."

"The intellectual mentoring as well as the spiritual influences, which went into the shaping of a radical revolutionary in the formative phase of his life and career, has been illuminated with intense precision while bringing into light his comradeship with nationalist leaders of Odisha," Nanda said.

In all the available writings, Benimadhab Das, headmaster of Ravenshaw Collegiate School, is mentioned to have greatly influenced Netaji. The author said: "Netaji came under the influence of two great headmasters of the school, Benimadhab Das and Narayan Prasad Mohanty."

Referring to Mohanty, the author writes: "He was the man who first taught Netaji the meaning of Swaraj. He was the man who first sowed the seeds of nationalism and revolutionary spirit in his adolescent mind."

Referring to Sripada Ramdas Babaji Maharaj, a disciple of Vaishnavite saint Sriradharama Dev, the author writes: "Ramdas greatly moulded the spiritual life of young Netaji. He was truly his first spiritual guru during his student days in Cuttack. The teachings of Ramdas Babaji Maharaj to a large extent, shaped his character."

In the book, Parija narrates how Netaji used to regularly visit the Radharaman Math where Ramdas Babaji Maharaj stayed "to learn lessons on yoga, brahmacharya, spiritual knowledge and character building".

The book narrates several rare moments of Netaji's early life at the Ravenshaw Collegiate School as well as his philanthropic and community engagements. The book is made alive through a large number of photographs, some of them rare and timely collections.

Netaji was born on January 23, 1897 at Janakinath Bhavan at Odia Bazar in Cuttack.