Manoj Das

Manoj Das
Born	February 27, 1934 (1934-02-27) (age 77) Shankari, Balasore, Orissa, India
Residence	Pondichery, Tamil Nadu
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Bilingual Writer , philosopher, spiritual think tank , Editor and internationally reputed ex-student leader
Spouse	Married
Children	no
Parents	Madhu Sudana Das
Website
worldofmanojdas.in

Manoj Das(Oriya: ମନୋଜ ଦାସ) (born 1934) is an Indian 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 ashramite 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.^[1]

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.^[2]

Views

Das has been compared to Vishnu Sarma, in modern Oriya literature for his magnificent style^[3][4] 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.^[5][6]

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 Shri, 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.

Commentary

Once world famous fiction writer Graham Green 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 Orissa is far from Malgudi, but there is the same quality in his stories with perhaps an added mystery.^{[citation needed]}

Blog

All the non-oriya readers and admirers of Manoj Das’s writing can read some of his works on varied issues and topics from this blog-post.

Notes

1. ^ quoted from the public domain "Manoj Das - Oriya Writer: The South Asian Literary Recordings Project" Library of Congress, New Delhi Office
2. ^ "The Hertage Story" http://www.collaboration.org/centers/goldenchain/Magazine/Vol1No1/cover%20story.html#ManojDasAnswers
3. ^ narrate a story without losing the Indian charm and ethos Mohapatra, Tusar N. (26 January 2007) "Manoj Das Chasing the Rainbow" Aurora Mirabilis
4. ^ blends realism and fantasy in the most artistic way Mishra, Ganeswar "The Short Story" Government of Orissa website
5. ^ 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
6. ^ a group of powerful storywriters has emerged ... This group includes ... Manoj Das Mishra, Ganeswar "The Short Story" Government of Orissa website

External links

• Official Website:worldofmanojdas.in
• Tandraalokara Prahari
• Amrutaphala
• A Short Meeting with Mr. Manoj Das
• Chasing the Rainbow

References

• "Manoj Das - Oriya Writer: The South Asian Literary Recordings Project" Library of Congress, New Delhi Office;
• Raja, P. (1993) Many worlds of Manok [sic] Das B.R. Pub. Corp, New Delhi, ISBN 8170187613 ;

Persondata
Name	Das, Manoj
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1943
Place of birth	shankari
Date of death
Place of death