Eminent Writer Manoj Das Passes Away In Puducherry

Bhubaneswar: Eminent litterateur of Odisha Manoj Das passed away in Puducherry on Tuesday. He was undergoing treatment in a hospital there for old age ailments. He was 87.

Das was admitted to a nursing home in Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry in September last year and his condition had deteriorated in December. A four-member team of doctors from Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) had been deputed for treatment of the celebrated author.

Born in Shankari village of Balasore district on  February 27, 1934, Das had started writing early. His first literary work, a book of poetry in Odia – Satavdira Artanada – was published in 1949 when he was in the high school. He passed from the high school in 1951.

He was active in student politics while doing graduation in English literature in Cuttack College. He was arrested for revolutionary activities and could not complete graduation there. Later, he finished his graduation from Samanta Chandra Shekhar College, Puri in 1955.

After getting post-graduate degree in English literature from Ravenshaw college, he had a short stint as a lecturer in Christ College in Cuttack. Later, he joined Sri Aurobindo Ashram. He joined as professor of English Literature at Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, Puducherry in 1963.

During his college days, Das published a novel ‘Jeebanara Swada’, a collection of short stories ‘Vishakanyar Kahani’ and a collection of poems ‘Padadhawani’. 

Later, he went on to write several books of short stories, novels and poems during his literary career. He also wrote columns in The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, The Hindu and The Statesman.

He is considered as the foremost bilingual Odia writer and a master of dramatic expression both in his English and Odia short stories and novels. He was also an accomplished painter.

Das was awarded with Saraswati Samman in 2000 and conferred Padma Shri in 2001 and Padma Bhusan in 2020 for his contribution in the field of literature and education. The Kendra Sahitya Akademi awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award Fellowship to Das.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has expressed his condolence on the demise of the writer. “Deeply saddened to know about the passing away of legendary litterateur Manoj Das. He has left an indelible mark in the field of literature with his vast variety of immortal works and left a void which can never be filled. The demise of the literary doyen is an irreparable loss to the world of Odia and English literature. My thoughts and prayers with the bereaved family members, readers and followers,” Naveen said.