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Manoj Das

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Manoj Das
Native name
Manoj Kumar Das
Born(1934-02-27)27 February 1934
Sankhari, Balasore, Odisha, India
Died27 April 2021(2021-04-27) (aged 87)
Puducherry
OccupationWriter, columnist, editor, professor
Alma materSamanta Chandra Shekhar College, Puri
Ravenshaw College
GenreFiction, mythology, biography
Notable worksCyclones
A Tiger at Twilight
Mystery of the Missing Cap
Myths, Legends, Concepts and Literary Antiquities of India
Notable awardsPadma Shri

Padma Bhusan

Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
Saraswati Samman
SpousePratijina Devi
Signature
Website
worldofmanojdas.in

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, and Padma Bhusan in 2020,[3] the third-highest Civilian Award in India for his contribution to 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, through extensive research conducted in the archives of London and Edinburgh, he uncovered lesser-known aspects of India's freedom struggle during the early 1900s, led by Sri Aurobindo. This significant contribution earned him the inaugural Sri Aurobindo Puraskar in Kolkata.

His pursuit of deeper understanding eventually led him to mysticism, becoming a resident of Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry in 1963. During his time there, he imparted knowledge in English Literature and the Philosophy of Sri Aurobindo at the Sri Aurobindo International University.[5][6]

Early life

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Das was born in the small coastal village, Balasore of odisha. 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 at 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 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 at 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

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Das 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

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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 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

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Among the other important positions that Das held were, Member, General Council,[clarification needed] 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

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Selected works

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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

  • Keta Diganta (Part I)
  • Keta 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

Commentary

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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]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Noted Odia and English writer Manoj Das passes away at 87 in Puducherry". New Indian Express. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  2. ^ Padma Shri Awards
  3. ^ "Padma Awards List 2020" (PDF). Govt. of India.
  4. ^ "Akademi Awards". Sahitya Akademi. Archived from the original on 25 September 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  5. ^ "Famous eminent persons poets freedom fighters of Orissa". insideorissa.co.in. 2012. Archived from the original on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2012. he has been teaching English at the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education there ever since
  6. ^ "Odisha: Writer Manoj Das dies, leaves behind a void in Odia literature". Minati Singha. The Times of India. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  7. ^ Padhi, S.C. (2007). Historians and historiography: twentieth-century Orissa. Sundeep Prakashan. p. 10. ISBN 978-81-7574-177-5. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  8. ^ Benson, E.; Conolly, L.W. (2004). Encyclopedia of Post-Colonial Literatures in English. Taylor & Francis. p. 338. ISBN 978-1-134-46848-5. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  9. ^ "Manoj Das – Odia Writer: The South Asian Literary Recordings Project (Library of Congress New Delhi Office)". loc.gov. 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012. He is settled as an ashramite of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry since 1963
  10. ^ Kumar, Ramendra (2012). "Tete-A-Tete with A Wizard of the Words by Ramendra Kumar". boloji.com. Retrieved 17 July 2012. Senapati, undoubtedly, was a consciously felt influence
  11. ^ Raja, P. (1993). Many Worlds of Manoj Das. New world literature series. B.R. Publishing Corporation. p. 3. ISBN 978-81-7018-761-5. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  12. ^ ""The Heritage Story"". Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  13. ^ "Manoj Das". batoi.com. 2012. Archived from the original on 17 December 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012. He wrote columns in India's national dailies like The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, The Hindu and The Statesman.
  14. ^ Mohapatra, Gargee (2010). "Manoj Das is born for literature". orissabarta.com. 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 most artistically Mishra, Ganeswar "The Short Story" Government of Odisha website Archived 9 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  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 Archived 9 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ "K.K. Birla Foundation". kkbirlafoundation.org. 2009. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2012. Year: 2000 Recipient: Shri Manoj Das Name of Book: Amruta Phala (Oriya : Novel)
  20. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 August 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. ^ "Other States / Orissa News : Highest literary honor for Manoj Das". The Hindu. 2007. Archived from the original on 10 February 2008. Retrieved 17 July 2012. Mr. Das was at his humble best when he received the country's highest literary honour – Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
  22. ^ "..:: SAHITYA: Fellows and Honorary Fellows ::." sahitya-akademi.gov.in. 2012. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2012. 2006: Sri Manoj Das (1934)
  23. ^ "Atibadi Jagannath Das Award for 4- Orissa- IBNLive". ibnlive.in.com. 2011. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2013. The luminaries are Manoj Das
  24. ^ "NTR literary award for Oriya writer – The Hindu". thehindu.com. 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2013. Oriya writer Manoj Das has been selected for the NTR National Literary Award for 2013.
  25. ^ Dominique, Bosco (18 September 2013). "Writer Manoj Das selected for Amrita Keerti Puraskar instituted by Mata Amritanandamayi Math". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015.
  26. ^ "Amritakeerti Puraskar for litterateur Manoj Das | Business Standard". business-standard.com. 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013. Manoj Das, a towering figure of English and Oriya literature, will be conferred with the 2013 Amritakeerti Puraskar
  27. ^ "Manoj Das conferred with Vedvyas Samman Puraskar". Odisha Sun Times. Archived from the original on 27 August 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  28. ^ "Odisha writer Manoj Das receives Mystic Kalinga Literary Award – The Hindu". thehindu.com. 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020. Odisha writer Manoj Das receives Mystic Kalinga Literary Award
  29. ^ Das, M. (2013). The Escapist. Ocean Books. ISBN 978-81-8430-175-5. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  30. ^ Das, Manoj (2019). Śesha tāṅtrīkara sandhānarē / Sesha tantrikara sandhanare / by Manoj Das (in Odia). Kaṭaka: Jagannātha Ratha. ISBN 978-81-7406-035-8. OCLC 1104218976.
  31. ^ http://www.worldofmanojdas.in/editing/review-of-books/Indian-Review-2001.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  32. ^ "Thinking through silence". The Hindu. 2001. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2012. Graham Greene, who happened to read his short stories during the last phase of his life, wrote, Manoj Das's stories 'will certainly take a place on my shelves beside 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.'

References

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