Manoj Das

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Manoj Das (27 February 1934 – 27 April 2021) was an Indian author who wrote in Odia and English.[1] In 2000, Manoj Das was awarded the Saraswati Samman. He was awarded Padma Shri in 2001,[2] the fourth-highest Civilian Award in India, Padma Bhusan in 2020,[3] the third highest Civilian Award in India for his contribution in the field of Literature & Education.

Kendra Sahitya Akademi has bestowed its highest award (also India's highest literary award) i.e Sahitya Akademi Award Fellowship.[4]

In 1971, his research in the archives of London and Edinburgh brought to light some of the little-known facts of India's freedom struggle in the first decade of the twentieth century led by Sri Aurobindo for which he received the first Sri Aurobindo Puraskar (Kolkata).

His deeper quest led him to mysticism and he was an inmate of Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry since 1963 where he taught English Literature and the Philosophy of Sri Aurobindo at the Sri Aurobindo International University.[5][6]

Early life

Manoj Das was born in the small coastal village of Shankari in Bhograi, Balasore district of Orissa. His father, Madhusudan Das,[7] worked under British Government. He had started writing early. His first work a book of poetry in Odia, Satavdira Artanada was published in 1949 when he was in high school. He launched a literary magazine, Diganta in 1950. He graduated high school in 1951. His first collection of short stories Samudrara Kshyudha (Hunger of Sea) was in that year. He was active in student politics while studying BA in Cuttack College. He was a youth leader with radical views in his college days, and spent a year in jail for his revolutionary activities. In 1959 he was a delegate to the Afro-Asian students' conference at Bandung, Indonesia. He did not complete his degree in Cuttack. He ultimately finished his graduation from Samanta Chandra Shekhar College, Puri in 1955. During his college years, he kept on writing and he published a novel Jeebanara Swada, a collection of short stories Vishakanyar Kahani and a collection of poems Padadhawani. After graduating with a degree in English literature, he got a post graduate degree in English literature from Ravenshaw college. After a short stint as a lecturer in Christ College (Cuttack), he joined Sri Aurobindo Ashram at Puducherry.[8] Since 1963, he has been professor of English Literature at Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, Puducherry.[9]

He cited Fakir Mohan Senapati, Vyasa, and Valmiki as early influences.[10]

As editor and columnist

He edited a cultural magazine, The Heritage, published from Chennai in 1985-1989.[11] The magazine is no longer in circulation.[12]

He wrote columns on quest for finding eternal truth in common lives in India’s national dailies like The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, The Hindu and The Statesman.[13][14]

Creative writing and story-telling

Manoj Das is perhaps the foremost bilingual Odia writer and a master of dramatic expression both in his English and Odia short stories and novels. Das has been compared to Vishnu Sharma, in modern Odia literature for his magnificent style[15][16] and efficient use of wordsTemplate:Citation needed and for the fact that, he is one of the best story-tellers in India in modern times.[17][18] Over the years many research scholars have done their doctoral thesis on the works of Manoj Das, P. Raja being the first scholar to do so.

National and international positions

Among the other important positions that Das held were, Member, General Council,Template:Clarify Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi 1998–2002, and Author-consultant, Ministry of Education, Government of Singapore, 1983–85. He was the leader of the Indian delegation of writers to China (1999).

Awards

Selected works

Template:Div col Novels

  • The Escapist, 2001[29]
  • Tandralokara Prahari, 2000
  • Aakashra Isara, 1997
  • Amruta Phala, 1996 (Saraswati Samman)
  • A Tiger at Twilight, 1991
  • Bulldozers and Fables and Fantasies for Adults, (1990)
  • Cyclones, 1987
  • Prabhanjana
  • Godhulira Bagha
  • Kanaka-Upatyakara Kahani
  • Amruta phala
  • Sesha tantrikara sandhanare[30]

Short Story Collections

  • Upakatha Sataka
  • Abu Purusha
  • Sesa Basantara Chithi, 1966
  • Manoj Dasanka Katha O Kahani, 1971
  • Dhumabha Diganta O Anyana Kahani, 1971
  • The Crocodile's Lady: A Collection of Stories, 1975
  • Manoj-pancha-bimsati, 1977
  • The Submerged Valley and Other Stories, 1986
  • Farewell to a Ghost: Short Stories and a Novelette, 1994
  • Legend of the Golden Valley, 1996
  • Samudra-kulara Eka Grama (Balya Smruti), 1996
  • Aranyaka; (adapted to Aranyaka, 1994)
  • Bhinna Manisha O Anyana Kahani
  • Abupurusha O Anyana Kahani
  • Lakshmira Abhisara
  • Abolakara Kahani
  • Aranya Ullasha
  • Selected Fiction,[31]
  • Chasing the Rainbow : growing up in an Indian village, 2004

Travelogue

  • Kete Diganta (Part I)
  • Kete Diganta (Part -II)
  • Antaranga Bharata (Part I) (My Little India)
  • Antaranga Bharata (Part II)
  • Dura-durantara
  • Adura Bidesh – 2004

Poetry

  • Tuma Gaan O Anyanya Kabita, 1992
  • Kabita Utkala

History & Culture

  • Bharatara Aitihya: Shateka Prashnara Uttara,1999
  • Manoj Das Paribesita Upakatha Shataka (Tales Told by Mystics), 2002
  • Mahakalara Prahelika O Anyana Jijnansa, 2006
  • Jibana Jijnasa o Smaraika Stabaka
  • Prajna Pradeepika

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Commentary

Graham Greene once said, I have read the stories of Manoj Das with great pleasure. He will certainly take a place on my shelves besides the stories of Narayan. I imagine Odisha is far from Malgudi, but there is the same quality in his stories with perhaps an added mystery.[32]

Notes

  1. ↑ Noted Odia and English writer Manoj Das passes away at 87 in Puducherry. New Indian Express(27 April 2021).
  2. ↑ Padma Shri Awards
  3. ↑ Padma Awards List 2020. Govt. of India.
  4. ↑ Akademi Awards. Sahitya Akademi. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  5. ↑ Famous eminent persons poets freedom fighters of Orissa.. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  6. ↑ Odisha: Writer Manoj Das dies, leaves behind a void in Odia literature. The Times of India(28 April 2021).
  7. ↑ Historians and historiography: twentieth-century Orissa{{#if:Padhi|, Padhi}. Sundeep Prakashan(2007). ISBN 978-81-7574-177-5
  8. ↑ Encyclopedia of Post-Colonial Literatures in English{{#if:Benson|, Benson}. Taylor & Francis(2004). ISBN 978-1-134-46848-5
  9. ↑ Manoj Das – Odia Writer: The South Asian Literary Recordings Project (Library of Congress New Delhi Office). Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  10. ↑ Tete-A-Tete with A Wizard of the Words by Ramendra Kumar, Kumar, Ramendra. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  11. ↑ Many Worlds of Manoj Das{{#if:Raja|, Raja}. B.R. Publishing Corporation(1993). ISBN 978-81-7018-761-5
  12. ↑ "The Heritage Story". Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  13. ↑ Manoj Das. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  14. ↑ Manoj Das is born for literature, Mohapatra, Gargee. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  15. ↑ narrate a story without losing the Indian charm and ethos Mohapatra, Tusar N. (26 January 2007) "Manoj Das Chasing the Rainbow" Aurora Mirabilis
  16. ↑ blends realism and fantasy in the most artistic way Mishra, Ganeswar "The Short Story" Government of Odisha website Template:Webarchive
  17. ↑ He could be the best storyteller after R. K Narayan,' Narang said. Mohapatra, Tusar N. (26 January 2007) "Manoj Das Chasing the Rainbow" Aurora Mirabilis
  18. ↑ a group of powerful story writers has emerged ... This group includes ... Manoj Das Mishra, Ganeswar "The Short Story" Government of Odisha website Template:Webarchive
  19. ↑ K.K. Birla Foundation. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  20. ↑ http://www.kkbirlafoundation.org/downloads/pdf/saraswati-2000.pdf
  21. ↑ Other States / Orissa News : Highest literary honour for Manoj Das. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  22. ↑ ..:: SAHITYA : Fellows and Honorary Fellows ::... Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  23. ↑ Atibadi Jagannath Das Award for 4- Orissa- IBNLive. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  24. ↑ NTR literary award for Oriya writer – The Hindu. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  25. ↑ Writer Manoj Das selected for Amrita Keerti Puraskar instituted by Mata Amritanandamayi Math. The Times of India(18 September 2013).
  26. ↑ Amritakeerti Puraskar for litterateur Manoj Das | Business Standard. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  27. ↑ Manoj Das conferred with Vedvyas Samman Puraskar. Odisha Sun Times.
  28. ↑ Odisha writer Manoj Das receives Mystic Kalinga Literary Award – The Hindu. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  29. ↑ The Escapist{{#if:Das|, Das}. Ocean Books(2013). ISBN 978-81-8430-175-5
  30. ↑ Śesha tāṅtrīkara sandhānarē / Sesha tantrikara sandhanare / by Manoj Das{{#if:Das|, Das}. Jagannātha Ratha(2019). ISBN 978-81-7406-035-8
  31. ↑ Foerever Fresh : A Book Review. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  32. ↑ Thinking through silence. Retrieved 16 July 2012.

References

Template:Odia literature Template:Padma Shri Award Recipients in Literature & Education Template:PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2020–2029 Template:Saraswati Samman Template:SahityaAkademiFellowship Template:Padma Award winners of Odisha

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