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Manoj Das was one of the best storytellers, celebrated and gifted authors of our time. Among the few bilingual writers of the country, he has created absolute magic with his pen. His work comprises short stories and novels reflecting his deep humanism and blend of human emotions with spiritual elements with dexterity. Das’ writings were marked by lucid style that captivated his readers. He is one of the rare authors who transcend time, position, awards and recognition. He was a creator of extraordinary magic. He has woven tales of human emotions, experiences, sorrows and joys for his captivating readers.
Das was born in a small coastal village named Sankhari in Balasore district of Odisha on February 27, 1934. The natural landscape of the beautiful village, Talasari beach, Subarnarekha river and Chandaneswar temple nearby, all played a crucial role in the formative years of the literary prodigy. They all feature multiple times in his stories and other writings.
After completing his higher education, Das worked briefly as a lecturer in Cuttack. Then he joined the Aurobindo Ashram where he spent most of his life as a lifelong disciple of Shri Aurobindo’s philosophy and as a lecturer of English at the Puducherry University.
His writings are mainly focused on human sufferings but they elevate the readers into enlightenment and joy. Often layered with fantasy and satire, those exquisite writings often leave a deep and indelible impression on the minds of his readers. Apart from novels and short stories, Manoj also wrote several poems and essays. He started writing from his childhood and his first collection of poems - Satavdira Artanada was published in 1949 when he was in high school. He also founded a literary magazine - Diganta in 1950. The gifted writer wrote dozens of novels, short stories, travelogues, essays, and memoirs during his illustrious career. He is the storyteller who has never shied away from blending the material world with the spiritual, the natural with the supernatural and reality with lore.
The prolific writer has been honoured with many prestigious awards like Sahitya Academy Award, The Saraswati Samman, Padmashri and Padma Bhushan.
The celebrated writer is well-known for his significant contribution to post-Independence Odia literature with outstanding literary creations such as Tandralokara Prahari, Aakashra Isara, Amruta Phala, Sesha Tantrkara Sandhane etc. The bilingual writer began writing in English in 1968. Some of his best-known works in English include A Tiger at Twilight, The Submerged Valley, The Bridge in the Moonlit Night, Cyclones, Mystery of the Missing Cap and Myths, Legends, Concepts, Literary Antiquities of India etc. In 2004, he wrote his memoir-Chasing the Rainbow: Growing up in an Indian Village.
Manoj was also an eminent columnist who wrote for several well-known newspapers and periodicals of the country. He edited the cultural magazine - The Heritage. The magazine was published from Chennai between 1985 and 1989. But story telling was his forte and he has been compared with Pandit Vishnu Sharma of the Panchatantra fame for his sheer wizardry with words. Manoj’s literary work often depicts dramatic expression and it lifts the imagination of the readers to a different realm which is beyond words to be expressed. His writings have been the subject of research by several scholars over the years.
The celebrated bilingual writer bid farewell to the material world on 27 April 2021. The departure of Manoj from the material world has created a void that the world of literature will always find hard to fill.
