Odisha

Odisha’s Noted Author Prof Ananta Charan Sukla Passes Away

By
OB Bureau

Cuttack: Noted author, philosopher and the founding editor of the “Journal of Comparative Literature and Aesthetics”, Prof Ananta Charan Sukla passed away on Wednesday at his Cuttack residence after prolonged illness for over three years. He was 79.

He died of multiple organ complications and had a cardiac arrest and respiratory failure just before noon on September 30. His last rites were performed at his native place and residence in Bhadrak. He is survived by his wife and two sons, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.

Born on November 6, 1942, Sukla was a pioneer in comparative literature, philosophy, aesthetics and art criticism. After his graduation from Bhadrak College, he did triple masters in English, Philosophy, Sanskrit, and PhD from Jadavpur University, Calcutta. He retired as professor of English from Sambalpur University in 2002. His ground-breaking work “The Concept of Imitation in Greek and Indian Aesthetics” is held in high esteem.

Sukla founded the Vishvanatha Kaviraja Institute and the “Journal of Comparative Literature and Aesthetics” as its official organ in 1977 by collaborating with the scholars of the West like Monroe Beardsley, MH Abrams, Mircea Eliade, Rene Wellek, Harold Osborne, John Hospers, and Indian scholars KRS Iyengar, VK Gokak, PS Sastri, SC Sengupta, Jagannath Chakravorty, Sisir Chatterjee. He continued editing and publishing the journal singlehandedly for over 40 years. His books have been published by leading publishers of the West like Praeger, Bloomsbury, and Brill, besides Rupa & Co and Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Letters).

“Immensely humane and erudite, he was one of the very few English professors in Odisha who had filled a gaping void in the heart of English studies caused by the absence of any encounter with Sanskrit. And he had done it before GN Devy and others did it,” said former professor of English at Utkal University, Himansu Mohapatra.

Former professor of English at Utkal University, Jatin Nayak said, “Prof Sukla was our window to a larger academic world. He taught us comparative aesthetics. In spite of the constraints a very small town imposes upon academic projects, he managed to bring his journal regularly. This was an amazingly impressive intellectual feat.”

“His work was my introduction to comparative aesthetics. Even today, there is a dearth of publication on Indian aesthetics and it is his work which is still an inspiration for many of us,” said Parul Dave Mukherji, Dean of the School of Arts and Aesthetics, JNU, New Delhi.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Odisha Govt Orders Transfer Of Ministerial Staff Of Registration Offices In 7 Days

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has ordered the transfer of all the ministerial employees of the…

November 5, 2024

Odisha Cong Leaders Seek Governor’s Intervention In Mango Kernel Deaths

Bhubaneswar: The Congress party has sought the intervention of Odisha Governor in death of two…

November 5, 2024

This Is How Anushka Sharma Wished Virat Kohli On His Birthday!

New Delhi: Anushka Sharma has once again shared the cutest birthday wish for her husband…

November 5, 2024

Odisha CM Orders RDC-Level Probe Into Mango Kernel Deaths In Kandhamal

Bhubaneswar: With the death of two women in the mango kernel incident in Kandhamal triggering…

November 5, 2024

27 BJD Legislators In Contact With BJP To Cross Over, Says Odisha MLA Saroj Padhi

Bhubaneswar: A day after two BJD leaders including a block chairperson joined BJP, Saroj Kumar…

November 5, 2024

Canada Cops Call Hindu Protests Near Temple Unlawful, Warn Of Arrests

New Delhi: Canadian police warned the Hindu community of arrests in the wake of protests…

November 5, 2024

Odisha Govt To Bring New Guidelines For Industrial Waste Management

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is all set to bring new guidelines for proper management and…

November 5, 2024

Two Detained For Sword Attack On Youth Over ‘Past Enmity’ In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Police on Tuesday detained two persons in connection with the near-fatal attack on a…

November 5, 2024