Nabakrushna Choudhury was born in a Zamindar family of Kherash village near Jagatsinghpur. While continuuing his graduation in Ravenshaw College, he took part in non-cooperation movement and left his course incomplete. In 1922 he trained himself in Sawarmati Aashram and started serving for his motherland. In 1925 he joined for graduation degree again at Shantiniketan. After completing the graduation he participated in the freedom movement. He has been imprisoned in the years 1930, 1932, 1940, 1942 for takling part in the salt revolution, law-disobedience revolution and Garjhat revolution etc.

HE was elected to the legislative assembly in the year 1937. In 1946 he held the position of Finance minister in Harekrushna Mahatab ministry. He resigned from the post because of his son's death in 1948. On 12th May 1950 he became the Chief Minister of Orissa. Till 1956 he worked as the Chief Minister of Orissa. He resigned and left the party and started serving the country. Some of his works include the first five year plan for Orissa the removal of landlord System, the law to make Oriya language the official language, establishment of the agricultural university, Baji Rout hostel for the students and many other laws to help the people.

In 1964 he visted Nagaland & Kashmir and tried to handle the situation there. Then he dedicated himself for the purpose of upliftment of education in Orissa. Due to degradation of the political environment in India again he returned to the field of politics in 1974.

He was jailed in 1975 during the emergency period. He has dedicated his life for helping the poor. The Champati Munda Jeevan Vidyalay and the Nava Jivan Mandal are the two organiations set by him for the schedule caste and schedule tribe students. He was very honest, fearless, selfless and was a person of high morale. Throughout his entire life he has struggled against corruption and suffering.