Manoj Das
Encyclopedia
Manoj Das (born 1934) is an India
n award-winning author who writes in Oriya
and English
.
Manoj Das, a profilic author,he is India's foremost short story writers. He writes both in Oriya and english and is a proffesor of English at the Sri Aurobindo International University, Pondicherry.
Manoj Das was born in a small coastal village named Shankari in Balasore
district, Orissa
State. Since 1963, he has been an ashram
ite at Sri Aurobindo Ashram
, Pondicherry. Manoj Das is currently an English professor at the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, Pondicherry. He is presently concentrating on writing novels.
Manoj Das is perhaps the foremost bilingual Oriya writer and a master of dramatic expression both in his English and Oriya short stories and novels. He says that, 'characters follow the theme of a story and the words are merely added by author to represent the thoughts of the character'. That is the precise reason why Das's persons in fiction are from so many varied backgrounds and display many different dimensions of human nature. He is a philosopher, a thinker-writer whose works can be defined as quest for finding the eternal truth in everyday circumstances.
Among the other important positions 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 edited a cultural magazine, The Heritage, published from Chennai in the 1980s. The magazine is no more in circulation.
, in modern Oriya
literature for his
magnificent style and efficient use of words and for the fact that, he is one of the best story-tellers
in India at present times.
The narration of story of Manoj Das is uncomparable to any indian contemporary writers. The words will make you laughing /crying and readers forget that they are going thru the books. The descriptions are such that you can see the cinema rather than just read. "Samudra Kulara Eka Grama" depicts the actual picture of a typical indian village which may not be possible to justify without Manoj Das.
Short Story
Travelogue
Poetry
History & Culture
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n award-winning author who writes in Oriya
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Manoj Das, a profilic author,he is India's foremost short story writers. He writes both in Oriya and english and is a proffesor of English at the Sri Aurobindo International University, Pondicherry.
Manoj Das was born in a small coastal village named Shankari in Balasore
Balasore
Balasore is a strategically located city in the state of Orissa, about north of the state capital Bhubaneswar, in eastern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Balasore district. It is best known for Chandipur beach. It is also the site of the Indian Ballistic Missile Defense...
district, Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
State. Since 1963, he has been an ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
ite at Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
The Sri Aurobindo Ashram was founded by Sri Aurobindo on the 24 November 1926 . At the time there were no more than 24 disciples in the Ashram...
, Pondicherry. Manoj Das is currently an English professor at the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, Pondicherry. He is presently concentrating on writing novels.
Manoj Das is perhaps the foremost bilingual Oriya writer and a master of dramatic expression both in his English and Oriya short stories and novels. He says that, 'characters follow the theme of a story and the words are merely added by author to represent the thoughts of the character'. That is the precise reason why Das's persons in fiction are from so many varied backgrounds and display many different dimensions of human nature. He is a philosopher, a thinker-writer whose works can be defined as quest for finding the eternal truth in everyday circumstances.
Among the other important positions 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 edited a cultural magazine, The Heritage, published from Chennai in the 1980s. The magazine is no more in circulation.
Views
Das has been compared to Vishnu SarmaVishnu Sarma
Vishnu Sharma was an Indian scholar and author who is believed to have written the Panchatantra collection of fables. The exact period of the composition of the Panchatantra is uncertain, and estimates vary from 1200 BCE to 300 CE...
, in modern Oriya
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
literature for his
magnificent style and efficient use of words and for the fact that, he is one of the best story-tellers
Storytelling
Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and in order to instill moral values...
in India at present times.
The narration of story of Manoj Das is uncomparable to any indian contemporary writers. The words will make you laughing /crying and readers forget that they are going thru the books. The descriptions are such that you can see the cinema rather than just read. "Samudra Kulara Eka Grama" depicts the actual picture of a typical indian village which may not be possible to justify without Manoj Das.
Awards
- Sahitya Akademi Award, 1972:
- Orissa Sahitya Academy Award, 1965 and 1982;
- Sarala Award, 1981;
- Vishuba Award, 1986;
- Sahitya Bharati Award, 1995;
- Saraswathi Samman, 2000;
- Padma ShriPadma ShriPadma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
, 2001. - KENDRA SAHITYA AKADEMI FELLOWSHIP, 2007
Selected works
Novels- Amruta Phala, 1996 (Saraswathi Samman);
- Aakashra Isara, 1997;
- Tandralokara Prahari, 2000;
- Prabhanjana;
- Godhulira Bagha;
- Kanaka-Upatyaka ra Kahani.
Short Story
- 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;
- Cyclones, 1987;
- A Tiger at Twilight, 1991;
- Farewell to a Ghost: Short Stories and a Novelette, 1994;
- Legend of the Golden Valley, 1996;
- Samudra Kulara Ek Grama (Balya Smruti), 1996
- Aaranyaka;
- Bhinna Manisha O Anyana Kahani;
- Abupurusha O Anyana Kahani;
- Laxmi Ra Abhisar;
- Abolkara Kahani;
- Aranya Ullash
- 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.