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Manoj Das

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Manoj Das
Born (1934-02-27) 27 February 1934 (age 90)
Sankhari, Balasore, Odisha, India
Occupation(s)Bilingual writer, columnist, editor, professor, philosopher, and student leader
AwardsPadma Shri
Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
Saraswati Samman
Websitehttp://www.worldofmanojdas.in
Signature

Manoj Das (born 1934) is an award-winning Indian author who writes in Odia and English. Kendra Sahitya Akademi has bestowed its highest award (also India's highest literary award) i.e Sahitya Akademi Award Fellowship.[1] Manoj Das was awarded Padma Shri in 2001 (also Padmashree)[2] for his contribution in the field of Literature & Education, the fourth highest Civilian Award in India. In 2000 he was awarded with Saraswati Samman also.

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 has been an inmate of Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry since 1973 where he currently teaches English Literature and the Philosophy of Sri Aurobindo at the Sri Aurobindo International University.[3]

Early life

Manoj Das was born in the small coastal village of Shankari in the Balasore district of Odisha. Since 1963, he has been an ashramite at Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry.[4] He cites Fakir Mohan Senapati, Vyasa, and Valmiki as early influences.[5]

He was a youth leader with radical views in his college days, playing an active role in Afro-Asian students' conference at Bandung, Indonesia, in 1959.

As Editor and columnist

He edited a cultural magazine, The Heritage, published from Chennai in the 1980s. The magazine is no more in circulation.[6]

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.[7] [8]

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[9][10] and efficient use of words[citation needed] and for the fact that, he is one of the best story-tellers in India at present times.[11][12] Over the years many research scholars have done their doctoral thesis on the works of Manoj Das, Dr. P. Raja being the first scholar to do so.

Politics

Among the other important positions that Das has held are, Member, General Council, 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

Novels

  • The Escapist, 2001
  • Tandralokara Prahari, 2000
  • Aakashra Isara, 1997
  • ''Amruta Phala, 1996 (Saraswathi Samman)
  • A Tiger at Twilight, 1991
  • Cyclones, 1987
  • Prabhanjana
  • Godhulira Bagha
  • Kanaka-Upatyaka ra Kahani

Short Story

  • Upakath 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;
  • Manojpanchabinsati, 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 Ek Grama (Balya Smruti), 1996
  • Aaranyaka; (adapted to Aranyaka, 1994)
  • Bhinna Manisha O Anyana Kahani;
  • Abupurusha O Anyana Kahani;
  • Laxmi Ra Abhisar;
  • Abolkara Kahani;
  • Aranya Ullash
  • Selected Fiction,[22]
  • Chasing the Rainbow : growing up in an Indian village, 2004.

Travelogue

  • Kete Diganta (Part – I);
  • Kete Diganta (Part – II);
  • Antaranga Bharat (Part – I) (My Little India);
  • Antaranga Bharat (Part – II);
  • Duradurantara;
  • Adura Bidesh – 2004.

Poetry

  • Tuma Gaan O Anyanya Kabita, 1992.
  • Kabita Utkala.

History & Culture

  • Bharatara Aytihya: Sateka Prashnara Uttara,1999;
  • Manoj Das Paribesita Upakatha Satak (Tales Told by Mystics), 2002;
  • Mahakalara Prahelika O Anyana Jigyansa, 2006.
  • Jeebana Jinjasa o Smaraneeka Stabak
  • Prajna Pradeepika

Commentary

Once world famous fiction writer Graham Greene 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."[23]

Notes

  1. ^ "Akademi Awards". Sahitya Akademi. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  2. ^ Padma Shri Awards
  3. ^ "Famous eminent persons poets freedom fighters of Orissa". insideorissa.co.in. 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012. he has been teaching English at the Sri Aurovindo International University there ever since
  4. ^ "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
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ "The Heritage Story" http://www.collaboration.org/centers/goldenchain/Magazine/Vol1No1/cover%20story.html#ManojDasAnswers
  7. ^ "Manoj Das". batoi.com. 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.
  8. ^ Mohapatra, Gargee (2010). "Manoj Das is born for literature". orissabarta.com. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  9. ^ narrate a story without losing the Indian charm and ethos Mohapatra, Tusar N. (26 January 2007) "Manoj Das Chasing the Rainbow" Aurora Mirabilis
  10. ^ blends realism and fantasy in the most artistic way Mishra, Ganeswar "The Short Story" Government of Odisha website
  11. ^ 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
  12. ^ a group of powerful storywriters has emerged ... This group includes ... Manoj Das Mishra, Ganeswar "The Short Story" Government of Odisha website
  13. ^ "Manoj Das conferred with Vedvyas Samman Puraskar". Odisha Sun Times. Archived from the original on 27 August 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ 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 27 August 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "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
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "Atibadi Jagannath Das Award for 4- Orissa- IBNLive". ibnlive.in.com. 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2013. The luminaries are Manoj Das
  18. ^ "The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Highest literary honour for Manoj Das". hindu.com. 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2012. Mr. Das was at his humble best when he received the country's highest literary honour – Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
  19. ^ "..:: SAHITYA : Fellows and Honorary Fellows ::." sahitya-akademi.gov.in. 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012. 2006: Sri Manoj Das (1934)
  20. ^ "K.K. Birla Foundation". kkbirlafoundation.org. 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2012. Year : 2000 Recipient : Shri Manoj Das Name of Book : Amruta Phala (Oriya : Novel)
  21. ^ http://www.kkbirlafoundation.org/downloads/pdf/saraswati-2000.pdf
  22. ^ "Foerever Fresh : A Book Review". Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  23. ^ "The Hindu : Thinking through silence". hindu.com. 2001. 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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