Manoj Das

Manoj Das
Born February 27, 1934 (1934-02-27) (age 78)
Shankari, Balasore, Orissa, India
Residence Pondicherry, 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 prolific author, is India's foremost short story writers. He writes both in Oriya and English, and is a Professor 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. 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 characters 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 a quest for finding the eternal truth in everyday situations.[1]

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 edited a cultural magazine, The Heritage, published from Chennai in the 1980s. The magazine is no more in circulation.[2]

Contents

Views

Das has been compared to Vishnu Sarma, in modern Oriya literature for his magnificent style[3][4] and efficient use of words 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 through 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

Selected works

Novels

Short Story

Travelogue

Poetry

History & Culture

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.

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 Heritage 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

References